President Bush has announced plans to deploy up to 6,000 National Guard troops to the U.S. – Mexico border in an effort to tighten border security against the entrance of undocumented immigrants into the U.S.

While we are a nation of immigrants, we must also remember that we are a nation of laws. I am opposed to illegal immigration and feel that any immigration reform must first begin with increased border security.  Our National Guard troops are more than equipped and qualified to meet this task, however our guard members are stretched thinner than ever.  Many have been deployed abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan or have been called to action to address natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina.

If the President is to move forward with this plan, we must guarantee that the federal government provides adequate funding.  Unfortunately, previous efforts to properly fund border security have failed. The Intelligence Reform Act, passed in 2004, mandated the hiring of an additional 2,000 Border Patrol agents over each of the next five years.  However, the President and Congressional Republicans have failed to provide the necessary funding.

The President must also guarantee that National Guard troops remain under the authority of state governors and be available for emergency situations, such as natural disasters.  In addition, any plan should clearly outline the length of time that Guard troops will be deployed, especially since we will send many of these soldiers away from their families and jobs on the heels of returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Last December, I joined a majority of my colleagues in voting to strengthen and protect America’s borders by supporting, H.R. 4437 the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act. This legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives on December 16, 2005. This bill will help stop the flow of illegal immigration into the United States by taking steps to tighten border controls and provide all employers with a reliable method of determining whether job applicants are legally eligible to work. It also increases physical barriers, incorporates widespread, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in order to ensure coverage of the entire 1,933 mile border, authorizes 1,000 new, full-time port of entry inspectors, and the training of 1,500 additional K-9 units.

Rep. Mike Ross (AR-04) today issued a statement on the House passage of the Republican Budget Bill.  The bill passed early this morning at 1:00 a.m. by a vote of 218 to 210.  The Senate and House versions of the bill must now be reconciled in conference committee.

“Today my Republican colleagues passed a budget that is flat-out fiscally irresponsible and morally incomprehensible. Not only does this budget add trillions of dollars to our national debt, but it also makes drastic cuts to programs so many of our working families, farm families, seniors and children depend on.

“Under the failed leadership of the current Administration, we have witnessed the largest deficits in history for five consecutive years including a projected deficit under the passed budget resolution in FY 2007 of $348 billion.

“From 1998 to 2001, our nation enjoyed a balanced budget. We actually had a budget surplus and could meet many of America's priorities.  Today, our nation’s debt has reached a staggering $8.3 trillion.  If every man, woman, and child chipped in to pay their portion of the national debt, they would be writing a check to the tune of $28,000.

“The budget resolution includes $228 billion in tax cuts over the next five years.  I am not opposed to tax cuts.  In fact, in 2001, when our nation enjoyed a budget surplus, I supported President Bush’s tax cuts.  However, in a time of record deficits and in a time of war, tax cuts are fiscally irresponsible.  It simply doesn’t make sense to borrow money from China to give those earning over $400,000 a year a tax cut.  It’s nothing more than a tax increase on our children.  This budget resolution also makes sweeping cuts in funding for Department of Education programs, eliminating 42 programs in total, lessens funding for veterans by $8.6 billion and health care by $18 billion over the next five years.   

“A budget process is about establishing priorities.  As a nation, we must decide if our priorities lie with providing tax cuts for those earning over $400,000 a year or with adequately funding education, health care and veteran’s benefits for our men and women in uniform who selflessly served our great nation during our greatest hours of need.

“This week, I voted in support of the Democratic Alternative to the budget.  This budget would have done better by our children and grandchildren.  It would have restored fiscal responsibility and discipline to our nation’s budgetary process and balanced the budget by 2012.  Furthermore, it would have invested $45.3 billion more in education, an additional $6 billion for our veterans and $18 billion more for health care over the next five years. 

“It is possible to respond to the needs of America’s working families while also enacting responsible and sensible budget measures.  My fellow Members of the fiscally-conservative Blue Dog Coalition and I have a budget package that would restore fiscal sanity to our nation’s government. Our ‘12-Point Budget Plan’ sets forth sensible objectives such as supporting a constitutional amendment that would require a balanced budget every year,  establishing ‘paygo’ standards --  meaning any new spending must be paid for by cuts in other programs -- and justifying spending for pet projects.  Our budget plan has received mounds of praise from many non-partisan watchdog groups across the country, and I can only hope this will eventually have an impact on the way our majority party chooses to address our nation’s budget needs.

 “Congress had an opportunity to pass a responsible budget this year - a budget that protects our working families, strengthens the middle class, and provides opportunities for all Americans while maintaining a system of accountability, but they did not. As Congress continues forward in the budget process, I will fight for fiscal responsibility and work to restore these irresponsible cuts.”

U.S. Representative Mike Ross (AR-04) joined 25 other members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in calling for a full committee hearing to investigate recent reports of telecommunication companies providing the National Security Agency (NSA) with personal phone records. The group sent the request to Chairman Barton (TX-06) late last week.

“The civil rights our ancestors fought for and are guaranteed in the Constitution have taken a major hit,” said Ross. “The government should not be allowed to infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens.”

"Our Constitution and Bill of Rights have served this country well for over 200 years.  Now is not the time to start bending the rules."

The NSA currently has records of billions of calls made by customers of AT&T, BellSouth and Verizon without customers’ knowledge or consent.   

The letter also notes recent legislation (H.R. 4943) passed unanimously by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that was pulled from the floor. The legislation would have guaranteed consumers rights from having their phones accessed without permission.