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News from U.S. Representative Ciro D. Rodriguez
MEDIA ADVISORY Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez (TX-23) led the fight Tuesday to protect our nation’s borders by co-sponsoring and supporting H.R. 6080, which strengthens security initiatives along the Southwest border. The bill, which passed the House by voice vote, funds border security initiatives at lower levels than Congressman Rodriguez has fought for, but it does provide for important needs along the border, such as additional agents, unmanned drones and technology. “Funding border security initiatives must be one of our nation’s top priorities. Today’s bill has been a long time coming and its passage is welcome,” said Congressman Rodriguez. “I am disappointed that it is more than $100 million less than what I previously proposed in the House. But as a Texas Member representing nearly 800 miles of border, this bill remains a critical source of funding. It provides dollars for new personnel, upgraded technology, more investigative units and resources to catch and prosecute drug traffickers.” H.R. 6080 includes: Department of Homeland Security Funding • $176 million for 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents deployed between the ports of entry along the Southwest border. • $68 million to hire 250 new Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at ports of entry along the Southwest border. • $80 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hire more than 250 special agents, investigators, intelligence analysts, and mission support staff and for targeted activities directed at reducing the threat of narcotics smuggling and associated violence. • $32 million to procure two additional CBP unmanned aircraft systems. Department of Justice Funding • $37.5 million for the continued expansion of the ATF’s Project Gunrunner, which targets firearms trafficking across the Southwest border, and to increase ATF’s capacity to complete firearms trace requests related to border cases. • $33.7 million for investigations, intelligence, surveillance and other operational needs of the DEA to target and pursue major drug trafficking organizations along the border. • $27 million for detention and incarceration space to address the increase in the prisoner population resulting from the new DHS and DOJ investigative activity. • $24 million for FBI investigative, intelligence, tactical and forensic responses to gangs, violent crime and public corruption in the border region. The bill, which falls under pay-as-you-go rules, also includes $10 million for the Courts of Appeal, District Courts, and other judicial services to meet increased workload requirements resulting from immigration and other law enforcement initiatives. Congressman Rodriguez, Vice-Chair of the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, has been at the forefront in fighting to restore critical funding for border security. He co-sponsored H.R. 6080, which is the House’s third attempt at getting border security funding passed. A previous supplemental appropriations bill had been approved by the House in July, but border funding was later stripped from the bill by the Senate. Last month, he sent a letter, along with Congressman Harry Teague (NM-02) and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08), to House leadership urging them to find ways to reinstate this funding, which led to H.R. 5875, the House’s second attempt to reinstate the funding. Congressman Rodriguez represents the 23rd Congressional District, which includes 20 counties and 785 miles of border with Mexico. He has been the leading voice in reinstating and funding Operation Stonegarden, a Department of Homeland Security grant program that provides $60 million annually for local border law enforcement agencies. # # # Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez (TX-23) serves as a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee. For more information about Rodriguez, see his website at http://rodriguez.house.gov or contact his Press Secretary, Rebeca Chapa, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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