Herb Kohl: “once again Senator Byrd has taken up the fight to fund adequately our homeland security needs. I supported his efforts…”

“once again Senator Byrd has taken up the fight to fund adequately our homeland security needs. I supported his efforts last year, I voted with him today, and I will continue to back his efforts to sufficiently fund out security needs in the future. Last year the Senate included supplemental funding for homeland security needs but the President refused to spend those funds. The Senate Appropriations Committee wanted to spend an additional $8.3 billion, but the administration only agreed to spend $4.2 billion. The President effectively vetoed $2.5 billion in emergency funding for homeland security last August. We hear reports that our country is no more secure today than we were on September 10, 2001, but the administration refuses to spend the funds required. This administration seems to believe that wisdom can only come from one end of Pennsylvania Avenue. The $5 billion in this package goes for hiring and salaries for FBI and Customs Agents. It purchases more patrol boats for the Coast Guard and improves port security. This money will help transform the Immigration and Naturalization Service and improve security at our embassies around the world. Almost $150 million will go out to our first responders through the COPS program, one of the more effective community policing programs. There are important funds in this package to protect and secure important Army Corps of Engineers infrastructure.”