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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2000
CONTACT: Lisette McSoud Mondello

SENATOR HUTCHISON SECURES MASSIVE NEW FUNDING
FOR SOUTHWEST BORDER LAW ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES
'Federal government finally owning up to its responsibilities to Border'

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- At the urging of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a landmark bill that provides funding to hire 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents next year, sends as many as 25 new assistant U.S. attorneys to West Texas' backlogged federal courts and funds the construction of dozens of new Border Patrol Stations, checkpoints and other facilities in Texas.

"We are bringing a major realignment of federal resources to the Southwest Border that will take the burden off local law enforcement and prosecutorial personnel," Senator Hutchison said. "The federal government is making a half-billion dollar down payment on fulfilling its obligation to secure the U.S. border."

"The federal government is at last acknowledging the staggering law enforcement responsibilities that have been placed on states and localities as a result of Washington's failure to commit sufficient resources to border requirements," said the Senator, who has made border issues one of her highest priorities since coming to Washington.

"Since coming to Washington, I have worked to increase funding and push border concerns toward the top of the congressional agenda. We have had some earlier successes, but this year, we have made unprecedented progress in five key areas," she said.

1. A continued build-up of the Border Patrol, including $92.9 million, or nearly double last year's allocation, to fund hiring 1,000 new Border Patrol Agents; the Hutchison pay raise for Border Patrol agents originally provided last year; Border Patrol recruitment bonuses and a dramatic increase in new Border Patrol facility construction, in which Texas does especially well, given the dilapidated condition of many of its Border Patrol facilities.

The following figures detail the dramatic increase over last year's funding. Some funds for FY 2001 were included in the main part of the Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations Bill, while the bulk of the Southwest border funds secured by Senator Hutchison were in emergency funding, recognizing the immediate needs of our border region.

Border Patrol Manpower   FY 2001
$ 92.9 million for 1,000 agents
   FY 2000
$ 48.5 million for 1,000 agents
Border Patrol Construction   FY 2001
$ 133,302,000 (Regular Bill)
$ 131,726,000 (Emergency Section)
   FY2000
$ 99,664,000
INS Detention and Deportation   FY2001
$ 133,302,000 (Regular Bill)
$ 122,282,000 (Emergency Section)
   FY2000
$ 99,664,000

2. New funding for equipment and infrastructure improvements, including more than $82 million for light helicopters, fiberoptic scopes, infra-red cameras, night vision goggles and pocket scopes. This represents a quadrupling of the $22 million in equipment funding provided last year. Further, the $264 million in Border Patrol and INS facilities construction is more than double the $99 million provided for fiscal year 2000.

Border Patrol Equipment
FY2001
$ 15,737,000 (Regular Bill)
$ 67,585,000 (Emergency Section)
FY2000
$ 22,000,000

3. A significant shift in law enforcement manpower, including the $1.2 billion allocated to the Office of the U.S. Attorney, a portion of which will fund the assignment of 25 new assistant U.S. attorneys to West Texas' overwhelmed federal district courts.

4. Increased funding for the Drug Enforcement Agency, the nation's pre-eminent drug-fighting agency, including a dramatic increase in resources for methamphetamine enforcement, training, special operations and regional enforcement teams.

Drug Enforcement Agency
FY 2001
$ 1,345,655,000
FY 2000
$ 1,276,250,000

5. The development of key technologies, such as an automated Department of Justice booking system and greater utilization of high-technology communications to enhance information sharing and cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

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