CBP budget represents 31% increase above 2007

CBP budget represents 31% increase above 2007 President Bush's 2008 budget proposal for the Department of Homeland Security includes a 31 percent increase to $10.2 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to budget details released by the agency last week.
   Budget summaries published by DHS one week ago did not give specific agency breakdowns and only highlighted spending requests for certain programs in the department's overall $46.4 billion budget.
   A subsequent CBP news release said the CBP allocation, if approved by Congress, is $2.43 billion more than appropriated in fiscal 2007, excluding outlays from emergency appropriations. CBP's budget figure includes $1.38 billion in funding from user fees.
   Under the budget, CBP would receive an additional $6 million for 55 new officers to operate an expanding universe of radiation portal monitors at land and seaports. DHS has said it plans to screen 98 percent of ocean containers for radiation by the end of the fiscal year.
   The budget also provides $10 million for 50 investigators and eight support positions to handle internal misconduct, administrative violations and many criminal allegations.
   The $15 million DHS approved for the Secure Freight Initiative would go to hire nine CBP officers and eight support staff, and to acquire and deploy equipment. Shippers' Newswire recently reported that CBP is likely to be given the reins for a new Secure Freight Initiative program office.
   A large portion of CBP's budget growth is devoted to the Border Patrol and to implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which requires travelers to produce a passport or equivalent documentation to enter the United States.