Homeland officials grilled on whether money is adequate

In the wake of suicide bombings late Monday killing Americans and others in Saudi Arabia, a member of a Senate Appropriations subcommittee questioned Tuesday whether the Bush administration has requested adequate funding to protect against terrorists at home.

"We cannot protect the homeland on the cheap," a feisty and frustrated Senate Appropriations ranking member Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., told officials of the new Homeland Security Department at a Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing.

Calling the Riyadh attacks a "grim reminder" of terrorism, Byrd added, "Either we're serious in protecting our borders and transportation system or we're merely engaged in public relations." He particularly criticized reallocation of funds appropriated by Congress for homeland security projects to make up for any shortfalls and said Congress was still awaiting a spending plan for transportation security going into the eighth month of this fiscal year.

Taking much of the heat from Byrd was Robert Bonner, commissioner of the new Customs and Border Protection Bureau-made up of inspectors from the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, agricultural inspectors, the Customs Service and the Border Patrol.

Byrd asked Bonner how much money he requested from the Office of Management and Budget, but Bonner could not give him an answer. "I don't know what our request was," said Bonner, Customs commissioner before the merger.

Bonner added that he had information about Customs, but "absolutely no idea" about the other agencies. He promised to report back after checking with "higher ups."

Saying it was a "stunning response," Byrd, who earlier praised Bonner for work at Customs, said "the people have a right to know" if funding levels are adequate.

Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Thad Cochran, R-Miss., questioned Bonner about what he plans to do about a law for immigration and other user fees expiring Oct. 1.

"My plan is to [seek legislation] to extend user fees beyond the end of the fiscal year," Bonner said. If it does not happen, he said there would be a $250 million gap in revenues used for Border Patrol and Customs agents' overtime pay.

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said the subcommittee would provide enough funds to fill any spending shortfalls and urged homeland security officials to upgrade border security through high-tech modernization on both Mexico and Canadian borders.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., warned James Loy, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, against diverting funds from container security. "I don't want to see any of that money diverted," she said.

Cochran also questioned the way 6,000 airport screeners and others will be reduced by this Sept. 30, and whether there would be an appeal process, citing a Mississippi situation. Loy said, "We will work with that airport to get the right number."

Also appearing was Connie Patrick, director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.