After including an amendment in an Appropriations bill to stop the funding on a Quick Response Team (QRT) facility in the East Brainerd, Congressman Wamp introduced a bill today that would require public notice and input in the placement of QRT facilities anywhere in the United States of America.

Congressman Wamp's amendment to the Transportation-Treasury Appropriations, which passed the House Appropriations Committee in July, prohibited the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement from spending any money on a processing center for illegal immigrants that was proposed for East Brainerd Road in Chattanooga.

The processing center includes a temporary holding facility for detainees and a storage facility for weapons in addition to law enforcement offices.   Many public officials and citizens were concerned about the location because the proposed site was close to two schools and a church.

"This additional legislation that I dropped on the House floor today will make sure that no other communities are blind-sided by GSA (General Services Administration) site decisions about QRT facilities," said Wamp.  "The bill requires GSA to hold a local public meeting before any decision is made about the location or relocation of a QRT facility." 

"I met several times with top GSA officials to stop the construction of the East Brainerd facility. This legislation will give an extra measure of protection to neighborhood families and parents with children in nearby schools," added Wamp

The language in the bill is as follows:

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall conduct a public hearing within the affected community before establishing or relocating any Quick Response Team whose duty it is to coordinate with State and local law enforcement officers to increase efforts to take into custody and remove from the United States illegal and criminal aliens apprehended by such officers.