The House passed the FY2012 Homeland Security Appropriations bill week, the first FY2012 appropriations bill passed this year.  The House bill provides almost $41 billion, $3 billion lower than requested by the president.  The bill funds the activities of the Secret Service, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration, Transportation Security Agency (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Coast Guard.  Funding in the bill for the Coast Guard totals $10.1 billion , essentially equal to the request.

Last year, the House passed the first FY2011 appropriations bill (Military Construction/Veterans Affairs) at the end of July.  This year, House Appropriation Committee (HAC) chair Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY) vowed this year would be different, saying that Congress has a responsibility “to complete this legislation before the end of the fiscal year.”  His schedule calls for all 12 appropriations bills to be completed by the HAC no later than the first week in August. 

So far the HAC is on schedule and has completed action on three bills:  Homeland Security, Military Construction/Veterans Affairs, and Agriculture.  The HAC FY2012 Military Construction/VA Appropriations bill is expected to go to the floor next week after the House returns from a one-week recess.  Also next week, the HAC is scheduled to consider the DoD bill on June 14 and Energy and Water Development bill on June 15.

The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to begin action on FY2012 appropriations bills later this month.