Senator Coons’ homeland security priorities included in appropriations bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined his colleagues on the Committee Thursday to approve the Senate’s FY15 Homeland Security appropriations bill, legislation that funds and strengthens Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programs to fight terrorism, improve national security, and better manage our nation’s borders. The bill also supports key grant programs for local fire departments in Delaware and improved regulations for cargo inspections at the Port of Wilmington. At the request of Senator Coons, the bill also directs DHS to reform dangerous deportation practices along U.S. borders and strengthens efforts to identify and confiscate illegal wildlife products smuggled through the nations’ ports. The bill will now move to the Senate floor for consideration.

“Keeping our communities safe and securing our nation’s borders is a never-ending task,” Senator Coons said. “As threats to our nation evolve, Congress must ensure the Department of Homeland Security has the resources it needs to adapt and respond. This bipartisan bill makes important investments to protect our communities and infrastructure and strengthen our resilience against natural disasters. The bill also supports critical programs for Delaware’s first responders and enhances the cargo inspections process to help the Port of Wilmington stay competitive during busy seasons. While working to keep American citizens safe, this bill also upholds our responsibility to non-citizens who cross our borders by ending deportation practices that endanger women and children. I’m grateful to my colleagues for supporting these important priorities, and to Senator Carper for his outstanding leadership on these issues each day as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.”

Throughout the appropriations process, including during Subcommittee negotiations, Senator Coons has fought for a number of Delaware and national priorities that were included in the bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday. They are highlighted below:

Firefighter Assistance Grants

Senator Coons successfully fought against cuts to two effective homeland security grant programs: the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program (SAFER). The President’s budget proposed $10 million in cuts to these programs, which have been instrumental in maintaining fire safety services for communities in Delaware and across the country. The SAFER program provides federal grants to understaffed fire departments to help them hire and pay new firefighters, and the AFG program provides funds for training and equipment. Cuts to these programs would have undercut safety and reduced the support available to communities in need at a time when many departments are facing state and local budget cuts.  

Port of Wilmington

Senator Coons advocated for language included in the bill that will ensure continued collaboration between Customs and Border Protection and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as the agencies work to implement revised user fee regulations. Revised regulations will ensure perishable produce at the Port of Wilmington – the continent’s leading importer of bananas and fresh fruit – receive timely inspections during busy seasons. The changes will enable private companies to pay overtime costs for the Port’s agriculture inspectors to ensure adequate staffing during their busiest import seasons. Senator Coons has pushed for reforms to update the current outdated regulations and successfully advocated for inclusion of similar supportive language in the FY15 Agriculture appropriations bill, which provides funding for APHIS.

Ending Dangerous Deportation Practices

Senator Coons successfully advocated for language updating U.S. deportation protocols to better protect the health, welfare, and safety of deported individuals, including unaccompanied women and children. The language directs DHS to limit all deportations to daylight hours and avoid locations that are determined to have high indices of crime and violence, except in cases justified by compelling government interest or the informed consent of the adult being removed. The language also directs the Department to develop standardized procedures to prevent the separation of families during the deportation process. These concrete, commonsense changes will encourage interagency cooperation to improve the security and welfare of newly deported migrants.

 Combatting Wildlife Trafficking

Senator Coons advocated for language urging improved interagency coordination to track, confiscate, and pursue illegally traded wildlife and wildlife products moving through our nation’s ports. The U.S. is currently the world’s second largest market, behind China, for illegal wildlife products. The bill directs DHS to submit a report outlining the steps it is taking to address the issue, improve coordination with the Fish and Wildlife Service, and implement the U.S. National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking. Senator Coons is chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs and co-chaired a hearing on the escalating wildlife trafficking crisis in May.