Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez (TX-23) fought to restore critical funding for border security by voting for H.R. 5875 late Wednesday on the House floor. Congressman Rodriguez is a co-sponsor of the bill, which was introduced late Tuesday, a day after Congressman Rodriguez sent a letter to House leadership on the matter.

H.R. 5875 provides an estimated $700 million in funding for 1, 200 border patrol agents, 500 additional officers at our ports of entry, and an addition $50 million for local law enforcement on the border.

“I represent more border with Mexico than any other Member of Congress, so border security is clearly one of my top priorities,” said Congressman Rodriguez. “I was disappointed to see that the Senate chose to remove this crucial border funding from their version of the Supplemental appropriations bill, but this vote give us the chance to right that wrong and provide for security needs along our borders.”

The funding was previously approved by the House, but then was stripped from the bill by the Senate. Congressman Rodriguez, Vice-Chair of the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, has since fought to get the funding reinstated by urging House leaders to find ways to restore the funding.

On Monday, Congressman Rodriguez sent a letter, along with Congressman Harry Teague (NM-02) and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08), to House leadership on Monday urging them to find ways to reinstate this funding.

Wednesday’s bill includes:

- 1,200 new Border Patrol agents, to ensure we sustain current levels on the Southwest border and build up capacity needed for when the National Guard is withdrawn next year.

- An additional 500 CBP Officers for the Southwest Border.  This is critical for enforcement against smuggling, and to maintain smooth operations at our ports, where trade volumes are increasing in Arizona, Texas and California.

- Integrity programs to combat intense efforts by the cartels to compromise and corrupt law enforcement officers on whom our border security and law enforcement efforts depend.

- Three new forward operating bases and better tactical communications, enabling the Border Patrol to close enforcement gaps that can be exploited by cartels and smugglers.

- Four new Border Enforcement Security Task Forces on the border to build up a permanent ICE presence in joint counterdrug efforts in the region, as well as surge operations of the ICE Criminal Alien Program and related criminal alien removal efforts.

- $50 million for the Stonegarden grant program to expand support for State and local law joint law enforcement efforts on the border.

- Two additional Predator unmanned aircraft systems to ensure better coverage of the Southwest Border, in particular to support the increased emphasis on the Texas border.

Within the Department of Justice, the bill provides funds for a comprehensive strategy that will:

o       Surge DEA agents, ATF agents, Deputy Marshals, FBI agents and US Attorneys to high crime areas in the Southwest Border region, and provide related detention and incarceration support;

o       Provide assistance to Mexican law enforcement authorities through ballistic analysis, DNA analysis, information sharing and technical assistance; and

o       Add attorneys, immigration judges and detention and incarceration support to handle criminal aliens referred by the Department of Homeland Security.

Congressman Rodriguez represents the 23rd Congressional District, which includes 20 counties and 785 miles of border with Mexico. He has, in previous years, worked to boost funding for Operation Stonegarden and is Vice-Chair of the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee.

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