SENATE REJECTS BORDER FUNDING, BORDER CHAIRMAN RESPONDS
Written by admin, Jul 25, 2010, 0 Comments
Courtesy Ashley Patterson,
Border Security Would Be Strengthened By Emergency Funds
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism, released the following statement in response to the Senate’s decision to not approve $701 million in emergency federal funding for the nation’s southern border as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Supplemental Bill.
“We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s border and homeland security. That’s why earlier this July, the House passed over $701 million in emergency southern border funding as part of the 2010 Supplemental Bill. Late this week, the Senate decided not to proceed in approving this emergency border funding, despite the fact that southern border states would have benefited greatly from these critical funds. This funding was slated to hire over 1,200 additional Border Patrol agents, in addition to providing funds for more hires at Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Over $200 million would have supported the Department of Justice in ramping up prosecutorial and investigative resources to support southern border states. Additionally, the President had requested such funding to help provide immediate relief to our federal law enforcement officials at the border. For these reasons, I will continue to fight for this vitally important funding, especially following the President’s decision to deploy 1,200 National Guard to the U.S. Mexico Border. While we have made great strides to further secure our nation’s northern and southern borders, we cannot abandon those opportunities to do even more. As violence persists across the Rio Grande, we cannot pause in our ability to detect, deter and disrupt the illegal activity which occurs as a result. Our communities in Texas understand the stakes we face, and I will not stop in our shared effort to do everything we can in response.”
