News release: “The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security today approved legislation aimed at strengthening the protections against terrorist attack on American soil. The Chairman’s Mark invests $41.3 billion in measures that are the nation’s highest-priority security projects. This includes an increase of nearly $2.6 billion above President Bush’s budget request, and an increase of $2.6 billion above the Fiscal Year 2008 funding level. The President submitted a flat budget proposal for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) despite current security challenges facing the nation. The Annual Threat Assessment, released in February by the Director of National Intelligence, confirmed that Al-Qaeda has regrouped in Pakistan and that terrorists continue to pose significant threats to the United States. In addition, the Department continues to believe that the aviation sector is at a high risk of attack.”