Washington, Oct 26 - U.S. House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement today after President Bush signed into law the Secure Fence Act – legislation authorizing the construction of 700 miles of reinforced fencing along the southwest border:

 
“The Secure Fence Act represents a major victory in Republicans' efforts to make a real difference in securing our borders.  This bill is a direct result of the effort House Republicans undertook this summer to hold hearings and make border security our first and foremost priority.  With a total of 10 committees holding 22 hearings in 13 different states, Republicans heard directly from the American people about our problems on the border and this bill takes a giant leap forward in the right direction.

 
“While Republicans continue to make border security our first priority, Democrats repeatedly advocate an open borders approach that would encourage more and more illegal immigration at the expense of American workers.  Republicans are delivering on their promise to strengthen U.S. border security and I would like to commend Chairman King for his leadership and his work on this critical effort.”

 
Key Republican Border Security Accomplishments Over September-October
 
*       Secure Fence Act (Signed into Law) – Legislation authorizes construction of 700 miles of reinforced fencing along the southwest border.

 
*       FY 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Conference Report (Signed into Law) – Legislation funds critical measures designed to strengthen America’s border security, providing $21.3 billion for border protection and immigration enforcement.  It also provides:

 
o        $2.77 billion for border patrol, adding 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, for a total of 14,800;
o        $1.2 billion for border fencing, vehicle barriers, technology and infrastructure; and
o        $4.2 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
 
*       Border Tunnel Prevention Act (Signed Into Law) – Legislation makes it a crime to knowingly construct, finance, or allow the construction of an unauthorized tunnel across a U.S. international border.  Individuals caught using such a tunnel to smuggle aliens, contraband, drugs, weapons, or terrorists face penalties of more than 20 years in jail