C. W. Bill Young: “Mr. Speaker, I misspoke when I said there was only one anomaly or change in this CR because there is one other I should…”

“Mr. Speaker, I misspoke when I said there was only one anomaly or change in this CR because there is one other I should call to the attention of the House, and that has to do with the Department of Homeland Security. In the CR we included a provision which provides transfer authority for the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and for unforeseen homeland security requirements. This is basically language that we had agreed to when the Homeland Security bill passed the House earlier this year; because that conference report is expected to hit the floor today we included this appropriations provision in the CR. Here is what it does. Under this provision, the Secretary of Homeland Security may transfer a total of $500 million in appropriations for unforeseen homeland security requirements. In addition, unobligated balances of not more than $140 million from funds appropriated prior to October 1, 2002, may be transferred for the initiation of the new department. Now such transfers, Mr. Speaker, may not exceed 2 percent of any appropriation between such appropriations. The provision requires that these transfers, and this is important, are subject to current reprogramming requirements. These transfer authorities would be provided until September 30, 2004. Mr. Speaker, this language was necessary to provide the President of the United States with the ability to move quickly in dealing with homeland security issues.”