Sen. Barbara Mikulski is leading the Democrats effort to add funding to the FBI's counter-terrorism efforts. | Getty Senate Dems push to add money for FBI counter-terror efforts

Senate Democrats are pushing a new FBI spending plan that would boost funding for the agency in light of the massacre in Orlando that killed 49 people — the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001.

The new proposal, led primarily by Democratic Sens. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland and Bill Nelson of Florida, could help determine whether Senate Democrats ultimately vote in favor of a funding bill overseeing the Justice Department and related agencies this week.


Democrats say their “pro-security” funding proposal would “ensure that the FBI has the emergency funding they need to track and stop domestic terrorists plotting to kill Americans” as well as bolster resources for more active shooter training for FBI officials.

Federal officials have said the shooter, Omar Mateen, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State before launching the Sunday massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. But FBI director James Comey has also said Mateen in the past had shown sympathy for other terrorist organizations beyond ISIL.

Comey and other top security officials from the Obama administration will brief senators on the attack at 4 p.m. at the Capitol.

The Democrats' plan would add $190 million overall to the spending bill for the Justice Department, which also provides funding for the Commerce Department and science-related agencies. About $175 million will be directed toward the FBI’s counterterrorism efforts and $15 million for active shooter training.

Senate Democrats argue that their new funding plan would better equip the FBI with critical resources as the agency investigates terror threats. Under the Democrats’ proposal, the FBI can restore more than 350 counterterrorism positions, including more than 225 special agents.

Mikulski, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said on the floor that her amendment would provide “emergency” spending that isn’t paid for; conservatives might balk at the effort to breach tight budget caps.

“The FBI needs the right tools, the right technology and the right training to stop terrorists before they act,” she said. “The threat is growing and the emergency is now.”

The FBI funding boost, and related gun measures, could have at least some bipartisan support.

“The FBI needs more money,” said Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who chairs the appropriations subcommittee that oversees the FBI. “We’ve got to figure out how we can get it. We’re talking.”

Shelby did not outright endorse the Nelson-Mikulski amendment, and left open the possibility that boosts in FBI funding would be off-set by cuts elsewhere.

“Is there some money there? That’s what we’re looking at,” Shelby said.

Asked about a measure to bar those on the terrorist watch list from purchasing guns, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he would not support such a measure until funding for the FBI is also lifted.

“It’s okay with me to stop a gun purchase, at least temporarily, if you’re on the terrorist watch list as long as the person has the right to challenge that,” Graham said. “What I’m not going to do is let that be the issue. The issue is inadequate funding for the FBI and laws that don’t work.”

“So let’s have a package,” Graham added. “Let’s replace sequestration, take it off the table for the FBI. … Let’s have a robust, healthy debate about funding.”

Separately, Nelson unveiled legislation that would list any person who has been investigated for terrorist ties — even if the probe is no longer active — in the National Instant Criminal Background Check system. If someone who has been investigated in the past tries to buy a firearm, the Nelson bill would require the NICS to automatically ping the FBI.

Comey said this week that Mateen had been on watch list in 2013 and 2014 when he was under FBI investigation. But he was taken off after the FBI closed its probe, which was inconclusive.

“We’re not saying: don’t sell guns to someone just because they were investigated,” Nelson said in a statement. “But having a system in place that alerts the FBI if someone they once investigated is suddenly trying to purchase multiple assault weapons is just common sense."