Homeland security spending measure stalls in conference

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Conferees negotiating the fiscal 2006 Homeland Security spending measure have run out of time to reach an agreement for floor votes before the August recess, according to a spokeswoman for Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Judd Gregg, R-N.H.

She said the two sides continue to negotiate but are hung up on funding disparities in the House and Senate bills, as well as realigning the department's budget to reflect a new structure announced by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff earlier this month.

Lawmakers said negotiations stalled because of the House's proposed $466 million cut to the Coast Guard's Deepwater program.

Meanwhile, House Homeland Security Chairman Chris Cox, R-Calif., and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan Collins, continued negotiating Thursday on language to revamp the funding formula for first responders.

They are aiming to attach the provision to the spending measure. The House will vote Thursday evening on the fiscal 2006 Legislative Branch and Interior spending bills.

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