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Since September 11th,
I have voted seven times to improve border security funding. All of these
amendments failed on party line votes. Had they been successful, our
country would now have over 6,600 more border patrol agents, 14,000 more
detention beds and 2,700 more immigration and customs agents.
1. November 28, 2001, HR 3338, 2002 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
Bill, (Defense Appropriation Bill)
I opposed the rule so that an
amendment to increase security funding including $223 million for immigration
and border security to fund 790 additional agents for the border, machine
readable visa machines at U.S. Consulates and additional detention facilities
at the borders would be considered.
2. June 24, 2003, HR 2555, 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
I voted against the previous
question in order to allow an amendment to increase homeland security funding
to be made in order which would have included $300 million for 1000 new agents
and inspectors, additional air patrols, and equipment.
3. June 16, 2004, HR 4567, 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
I voted against the previous
question in order to allow an amendment to increase homeland security funding
to be made in order. It would have included $750 million to address
border security.
- Inspection technology would have increased by $250
million to $415 million to purchase 1,000 additional radiation monitors
and other equipment.
- Border agents and inspector staffing would have
increased by $214 million to $3.4 billion, adding 2,000 more border agents
and inspectors to enable DHS to meet the Patriot Act's staffing
goal.
- The Container Security Initiative would have increased
by $86 million to $212 million to provide 100 new necessary staff.
- Air operations would have increased by $100 million to
$358 million to provide for 2 additional northern border air
stations.
- Immigration and customs investigative staff would have
increased by $100 million, or 10% more, for 1,000 additional agents.
4. May 5, 2005, HR 1268, Public Law 109-13, 2005 Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Bill
I joined my Democratic colleagues in
voting to send the report back to conference with instructions to increase
funding for border enforcement which would have included $284 million for
border security to fund 550 additional border patrol agents, 200 additional
immigration investigators and unmanned aerial vehicles. The funding had
been included in the Senate bill, but not in the conference report due to the
Republican House Leadership's influence.
5. May 17, 2005,
HR 2360, 2006 Homeland
Security Appropriations Bill
I opposed the rule so that an
amendment to increase security funding would be made in order to allot $400
million more to meet border security requirements of the Intelligence Reform Act
to provide for an additional 500 border patrol agents, 600 immigration
investigators, and 4,000 detention beds.
6. March 16,
2006, HR 4939, 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill
I voted for an amendment to increase
security funding $400 million for installation of 1,500 radiation portal
monitors at border locations and $200 million for additional aviation assets
and operations at our land borders.
7. May 17, 2006, HR 5441, Full Committee consideration of 2007
Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
I voted for two amendments to
increase security funding to include $2.1 billion more for border
security. This would have funded 1,800 additional border patrol agents,
9,000 additional detention beds and 800 additional immigration agents, for
additional border air patrols and the planned fifth northern border air wing
and for up to 500 additional radiation portal monitors.
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