Impact of the bailout bill

Although it’s not directly related to homeland security, and it doesn’t change the FY2009 homeland security budget, the Economic Stabilization Plan (otherwise known as the “bailout bill”) is expected to have an effect on homeland security funding at multiple levels (see this commentary for more on the expected impacts).

[Update 10/08: Credit squeeze has yet to hit the homeland security biz]

[Update 10/09: See Homeland Security and Economic Recovery for how smart Homeland Security spending can help with economic recovery]

There’s more than enough commentary and information on the bailout plan on the web, but there’s so much it’s hard to piece it together and find really good info.  Thankfully, I found a good summary of information resources on the blog of California Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA 15):

• Read full article

See also this article by Steven Pearlstein of the Washington Post about why even people who hate the bailout think it’s necessary.

FY2009 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

Here’s the House version of the bill, in case you want to read it through in detail; there’s also some analysis from Govtrack.us which is alot more valuable for most of us:

• Actual Bill: H.R.6947
• More Readable: Text of H.R. 6947: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2009
• Status and Analysis: H.R. 6947: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2009
• Spending Breakout: Congress Moves to Fund Homeland Security

Note: The numbers of the bills are confusing, as is which came first.  But bottom line, this bill was combined with the continuining resolution (H.R. 2638) for most of the federal government, so the text of the Homeland Security appropriations bill shows up as Division D of H.R. 2638 (pages 194 – 291), and will actually be voted on as part of the continuing resolution (not separately).

Tidbit: Panel wants larger DHS acquisition workforce

The House thinks DHS takes too long to review and award contracts, and has specified money in the FY2009 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill to address that by beefing up DHS acquisitions:

• Panel wants larger DHS acquisition force