Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act
President George W. Bush created the United States Department of Homeland, or DHS, on September 22, 2001. Several reports before that time indicated the need for a centralized agency to handle homeland security activities, which was then delegated to more than 40 agencies. Congress first passed the Security Appropriations Act in 2003 and it has continued to be passed each year as of January 2011. This annual bill grants a significant budget to the DHS for working to keep Americans safe at home.
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History
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The first Security Appropriations Act went into effect in 2003. This Act granted the DHS money to spend on domestic security, which includes working to stop terrorist attacks at home as well as emergency management and other duties. This Act, passed 18 months after the September 11 terrorist attacks, saw little opposition in Congress. Subsequent bills also passed with some level of ease.
Significance
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Before the passage of the Security Appropriations Act, other agencies had to fund the work performed by the DHS. According to a DHS history of the department, more than 200 federal offices contributed funds to some form of "homeland security" activity prior to the formation of the department and the passage of the Appropriations Act.
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Uses
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The money from the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act goes to a number of different groups within DHS. A large portion of the money goes to FEMA for disaster preparedness activities. Other groups also investigate potential terrorist threats and work to beef up security at the nation's borders.
Controversy
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In the wake of 9/11, communities throughout the U.S. began preparing emergency procedures in case of an attack, no matter how remote that attack. Some analysts, such as Frost & Sullivan's Matthew Farr, argue that Homeland Security appropriations serve only as a way for politicians to try to get funding for their constituents for various anti-terrorism and natural disaster-related projects.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit hurricane katrina image by jcpjr from Fotolia.com
