To Members of the NASULGC System:

Both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have reported their versions of the FY 2005 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bills. We are pleased to report that both the House and Senate have agreed to continue funding for the university-based centers of excellence at (or very near) last year's level of $70 million.

House Report Language (H. Rpt. 108-541)
The Committee recommends $70,000,000 for University Programs/Fellowship Programs, $40,000,000 above the President's request of $30,000,000. The Committee has provided an additional $40,000,000 for university-based centers of excellence.

Through the Homeland Security Centers of Excellence (HS-Centers) S&T is encouraging universities to become centers of multi-disciplinary research. In fiscal year 2004, S&T awarded three HS-Centers in the areas of: Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events, Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense, and Post-Harvest Food Protection and Defense. The future of homeland security science is also being advanced by the development of the next generation of scientists in the Scholars and Fellows Program. There continues to be intense interest from universities with proposals to perform homeland security activities. This additional funding will allow S&T to evaluate and support additional university proposals in fiscal year 2005.

Senate Report Language (S. Rpt. 108-280)
The Committee provides $69,048,000, an increase of $39,048,000 from the budget request, to fund existing and future Homeland Security Centers of excellence and to continue the university fellows program. The Committee encourages the Department to consider all colleges and universities that meet the requirements of 6 U.S.C. 188 in the selection of university-based centers, including historically black colleges and universities, tribal colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and Alaskan Native-serving institutions

Tim Sanders
Cornerstone Government Affairs