The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to pass a $42.3 billion budget for the government's homeland security efforts that represents a cut of almost 3 percent, or $1.1 billion. This was reportedly the result after a debate that demonstrated resistance for some of the spending cuts required under austere budget times.
The measure passed 231-188 after lawmakers eased cuts to popular grant programs for local fire departments and after GOP conservatives tried but failed in several attempts to add millions of dollars to a variety of border security initiatives.