David Price: “I want to commend our colleague from the District of Columbia for her persistent advocacy for this headquarters…”

“I want to commend our colleague from the District of Columbia for her persistent advocacy for this headquarters consolidation and construction, and also for the history she has recounted for us today. I think it's time well spent to understand how both the Bush and Obama administrations and the Subcommittee on Homeland Security Appropriations, through both parties' leadership, have until now supported this project. The bill before us, however, provides no funding for the new DHS headquarters or for the consolidation of leased property in 2012. That's a penny-wise and pound-foolish decision. Already based on the delay in finalizing the 2011 bill and the reduced resources provided in that bill for DHS headquarters construction activities, the cost of the headquarters project has grown. It's grown by $200 million, from a total cost of $3.4 billion to $3.6 billion. The decision to deny an additional $159.6 million in 2012 to finalize construction of the first phase of the headquarters project and to begin construction of the second phase will result in yet higher costs in the out-years, and will delay by at least 2 years when the Coast Guard can move into its new headquarters facility, which is already under construction. Similarly, the bill doesn't provide $55.6 million requested for lease consolidation activities. Last year, this subcommittee held a very informative hearing with DHS and the General Services Administration on this activity.…”