Congress hammers out DHS funding details
Online Exclusive, Sep 23 2003
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Congressional bargainers killed House-passed language to require inspection of cargo shipped on passenger airliners as they reached a compromise last week concerning the $29.4 billion bill to pay for the Homeland Security Department's operations next year.
The agreement put the measure, the first ever for the new agency, on track for House passage this week, with quick Senate approval possible as well.
The decision on cargo screening, forced by Republicans controlling the House and Senate, was a victory for the airline and air cargo industries and a setback for the proposal's Democratic sponsors. They have complained that none of the cargo shipped in the belly of airliners is inspected.
Democrats also lost attempts to add $1.25 billion to the measure for reinforcing security for seaports, aviation, U.S. borders and chemical facilities, and for local emergency workers. They said the bill left gaps in those areas, but Republicans said the measure provided important resources to shore up the nation's security.
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