Aderholt Questions Secretary Napolitano on FY13 DHS Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 15, 2012
CONTACT: Anne Marie Malecha, 202.225.4876

Aderholt Questions Secretary Napolitano on FY13 DHS Budget
Offers Funding Solution for Veterans Hiring Initiative, Demands Answers on Inadequate Funding for Frontline Operations and Airline Passenger Fee Budget Gimmicks

Washington, D.C.— Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on the House Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano testified before the Subcommittee regarding the Department’s FY13 budget request.

“Rather than making the tough choices and ensuring that actual dollars spent equals security realized, this budget increases bureaucratic spending at the Department’s headquarters at the expense of frontline operations and personnel,” said Aderholt. “Rather than presenting an honest, authentic budget, this budget is again riddled with gimmicks and false ‘savings’ in the form of nearly $1.3 billion in airline passenger taxes and fees that stand no chance of passing either body of Congress.”

Noting that in recent weeks the President announced his intent to use SAFER grant funds to help hire veterans. “Today I presented Secretary Napolitano with a solution to get this initiative going right away,” continued Aderholt. “As FY11 and FY12 SAFER grant funds have yet to be awarded by DHS and Congressional direction suggests those funds go to support new hires and new jobs, there is $744 million in unobligated funds available at the Secretary’s disposal that help get veterans back to work and would not cost American taxpayers a single, new cent.”

“I greatly appreciate Secretary Napolitano’s testimony before the subcommittee today, however I sincerely hope that the Department will put aside the gimmicks of phony offsets and political fanfare so we can work together to responsibly fund our nation’s vital homeland security priorities.” concluded Aderholt.

Click here to view Chairman Aderholt’s entire opening statement as prepared for delivery.

Aderholt currently serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security for the powerful House Appropriations Committee, is a member of the Committee’s Commerce, Justice and Science; and Agriculture Subcommittees, and also serves on the Helsinki Commission.

For more information about Aderholt’s work in Congress visit www.aderholt.house.gov.