GovernmentExecutive.com

The federal government would need to spend $21 billion through 2012 to pay for provisions in a House bill aimed at implementing unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, the Congressional Budget Office said late Friday.

The bill, which was the first to be pushed by House Democrats after they took control of Congress, would establish several new spending programs that would need appropriations, such as paying for grants to help state and local government buy interoperable communications equipment, preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction abroad, and improving airport security checkpoints.

According to CBO, the cost to implement the legislation would result in new discretionary spending of $21 billion from 2007 to 2012.

The price tag set off a tiff between House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson and ranking member Peter King, R-N.Y.

"This bill was rushed to the floor without the Democratic leadership giving us any indication of its massive cost--and now we know why," King said. "I think this $21 billion estimate makes it clear that the bill actually contradicts 9/11 Commission recommendations, which called for a risk-based allocation of homeland security resources. Had we known this before the bill was brought to the floor, it would have been a different story."

Thompson shot back: "This nation deserves better than bargain basement security. Perhaps there would not be such sticker shock if the Congress and the Bush Administration had addressed these security gaps identified by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission over three years ago."

COMMENTS

• Why should this cause a stir? This is pocket change compared to the $500 billion we've spent in Iraq and would actually benefit the American people by improving security on U.S. soil. Contracting Officer USAF GovExec.com reader Posted February 5, 2007 11:17 AM