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{{National Security and Foreign Policy (U.S.)|congress=110|bill=h2638}} 

<usbillinfo bill="H.R.2638" congress="110" /> 

{{Article summary|
The '''Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2008''' was intended to provide funding for the activities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year (FY) 2008.}} 

<br> 

== Details  ==

Overall, the bill provides $37.4 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, including funding for a border security fence, a provision successfully put in by Republicans members.<ref>Josh Rogin, [http://www.cq.com/display.do?docid=2533038&amp;amp;amp;amp;sourcetype=6 "House Passes Homeland Security Spending After Earmarks Deal Ends GOP Protest,"] ''CQ'', June 15, 2007.</ref> Specifically, the bill spends over $3 billion on grants to states for various first responder needs and over $5 billion on air and surface transportation security needs. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is ordered to double the amount of airplane cargo inspected. A $1 billion surplus of funds for specific in-bound cargo security is to be used with no further funding until Congress received a more detailed report on spending. $1 billion is added to border fencing and infrastructure.<ref>Robert McElroy, [http://theweekincongress.com/Member/JUN07_FULL/HR2638DHSAPPhJUN15.htm “Appropriations: Dept. of Homeland Security,”] ''TheWeekInCongress'', June 15, 2007.</ref> The measure also provides $8.8 billion for customs and border protection and $6.6 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, both more than requested by President Bush, while providing only $8.4 billion for the Coast Guard, less than requested. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would receive $7.4 billion, a significant increase over what was requested by the president and what FEMA received for FY2007.<ref>Josh Rogin, [http://www.cq.com/display.do?docid=2533038&amp;amp;amp;amp;sourcetype=6 "House Passes Homeland Security Spending After Earmarks Deal Ends GOP Protest,"] ''CQ'', June 15, 2007.</ref> 

The bill also requires the Secretary of DHS to communicate directly to employees their responsibility to cooperate with Inspector General inquiries. The IG had previously reported problems obtaining information from the Department.<ref>Robert McElroy, [http://theweekincongress.com/Member/JUN07_FULL/HR2638DHSAPPhJUN15.htm “Appropriations: Dept. of Homeland Security,”] ''TheWeekInCongress'', June 15, 2007.</ref> 

<br> 

== Consideration  ==

=== House  ===

==== Amendments  ====

On June 15, 2007, the House defeated an amendment relating to the construction of a fence on the U.S.-Mexico border by a vote of 233-190.<ref>THOMAS page on [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HZ00273: H.AMDT.273].</ref> 

<usvoteinfo rollcall="476" chamber="house" year="2007" /> 
{{Record vote display|U.S. House of Representatives record vote 476, 110th Congress, Session 1}} 

<usvoteinfo year="2007" chamber="house" rollcall="485" /> 
{{Record vote display|U.S. House of Representatives record vote 485, 110th Congress, Session 1}} 

<usvoteinfo year="2007" chamber="house" rollcall="488" /> 

{{Record vote display|U.S. House of Representatives record vote 488, 110th Congress, Session 1}} 

<usvoteinfo year="2007" chamber="house" rollcall="490" /> 

{{Record vote display|U.S. House of Representatives record vote 490, 110th Congress, Session 1}} 

==== Passage  ====

On June 15, 2007, the bill passed the House by a vote of 269-150. As per an agreement between Democratic and Republican leaders, the measure included no earmarks, but they could be added later in a conference committee.<ref>Josh Rogin, [http://www.cq.com/display.do?docid=2533038&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sourcetype=6 "House Passes Homeland Security Spending After Earmarks Deal Ends GOP Protest,"] ''CQ'', June 15, 2007.</ref> 

<usvoteinfo rollcall="491" chamber="house" year="2007" /> 

=== Senate  ===

<usvoteinfo year="2007" chamber="senate" rollcall="279" /> 
{{Record vote display|U.S. Senate record vote 279, 110th Congress, Session 1}} 

<br> The Senate passed an amended version of the bill on July 26, 2007 by a vote of 89-4. 

<usvoteinfo rollcall="282" chamber="senate" year="2007" />

== Articles and resources  ==

=== See also  ===

=== References  ===

<references /> 

=== External resources  ===

*[http://theweekincongress.com/Member/MemberHome.htm TheWeekInCongress]

=== External articles  ===

{{congresspedia}} 

[[Category:U.S._legislation]]