Homeland Security bill becomes law

President George Bush signed a $32 billion, fiscal 2005 Homeland Security appropriations bill on Oct. 18.

The law includes a major increase in funding for DHS CIO's office, which will receive $275.3 million in 2005, up from about $65 million in 2004. More than $200 million of the increase represents funding formerly devoted to cross-departmental projects.

Other IT projects approved include:

*$449 million for systems modernization at the Customs and Border Protection Directorate

*$340 million for the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program

*$140.8 million for national security and emergency preparedness telecommunications

*$106.6 million for critical infrastructure outreach and data sharing

*$67.8 million for cybersecurity projects

*$18 million for research on cyberthreats

The approved funding exceeds the administration's request by $896 million and 2004 funding by $2.8 billion.