BUSH’s BUDGET PROPOSES FUNDING FOR BXA SECURITY PROGRAMS

BUSHÆS BUDGET PROPOSES FUNDING FOR BXA SECURITY PROGRAMS    President Bush's fiscal year 2003 budget includes additional funding for several new programs and initiatives for the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Export Administration.
   The new programs fit neatly within Bush's emphasis of homeland security and promoting government efficiency, the bureau said.
   The programs include:
   * Homeland security information technology and evaluation program, which develops initiatives to promote the coordinated use of IT for homeland security. The program will study federal information systems with the goal of improving, information sharing among federal agencies for law enforcement, intelligence, border security and immigration purposes. The program will be administered by the bureau's Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office and will work closely with the Office of Homeland Security and the Office of Management and Budget to ensure consistency with the Bush administration's overall homeland security policy. The fiscal 2000 project provides for $20 million in funding and 15 full-time employees for the program.
   * Enhancing export enforcement of U.S. dual-use export controls, which are designed to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The fiscal 2003 budget allocates $5.35 million and includes 17 full-time employees for the program, to enable BXA's Export Enforcement branch to expand international enforcement efforts by posting attaches in key export markets and by sending agents to conduct on-site end-use checks in foreign countries. BXA will also enhance domestic export control efforts by establishing field offices in Seattle and Houston.
   * Improving efficiency of the export licensing system, through the hiring of front-line licensing and regulatory experts to enhance the agency's ability to carry out its export its export licensing responsibilities in a timely and effective manner. The budget provides for $1.14 million in funding and six full-time employees.
   * About $1 million in funding and a full-time position to significantly improve the bureau's IT security program.