|
Border Security
"Due to unprecedented federal investments in our front-line law enforcement professionals over the last decade, the southwest border region is the safest region in the United States. U.S. border cities have lower rates of homicides, aggravated assaults, rapes, burglaries, and robberies than most American cities. However, more work must be done to modernize America's ports of entry and increase staffing levels to meet 21st century security and economic needs. We must continue to provide federal law enforcement agencies with the tools and resources they need to effectively combat the flow of drugs, money, and weapons that are illegally transported between the United States and Mexico." -Congressman Silvestre Reyes
As a former Border Patrol Chief, Congressman Reyes is the only Member of Congress with decades of experience in securing America's borders. He understands that true border security is not achieved through higher fences, but by combining needed changes in immigration laws with additional resources and personnel to staff the border and ports of entry. Expanded funding is also needed to accommodate trade and commerce to increase jobs and opportunity in our region.
Focusing Attention and Resources on the US-Mexico Border
With the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and UTEP, Congressman Reyes established the annual U.S.-Mexico Border Issues Conference in Washington, DC and the Border Security Conference in El Paso. These conferences have raised the profile of the border region's unique challenges and have influenced federal funding and policy outcomes. The most recent Border Security Conference at UTEP featured America's top security officials and experts including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, National Security Advisor John Brennan, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Gil Kerlikowske, and others.
Reyes strongly supports comprehensive immigration reform and firmly believes that reform is critical to our national security. These changes must be combined with additional resources, and, throughout his tenure in Congress, Reyes has worked to increase funding for the Department of Homeland Security to support additional Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection professionals along the Southwest border.
Customs and Border Protection Staffing - Increasing staff at our borders is critical to protect individuals legally traveling between the United States and Mexico and to ensure the flow of commerce. Most recently, Congressman Reyes successfully fought for $600 million in additional funding to strengthen border security initiatives along the Southwest border in the Emergency Border Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, includind 1,000 new Border Patrol agents and 250 CBP officers. Reyes then urged the White House to further increase the number of CBP officers, and President Obama’s 2012 budget proposal included funding for an additional 300 CBP officers. Congressman Reyes worked with his colleagues to ensure that the 2012 Homeland Security funding measure included additional funds for additional CBP officers as well.
Improving the Flow of People and Lawful Commerce
Congressman Reyes fought for the first ever dedicated commuter lane (DCL) at a port-of-entry along the Texas-Mexico border. The DCL helps alleviate traffic congestion at the Stanton Street bridge and expedites the crossing process for thousands of regular border crossers. Congressman Reyes also secured funds from the Department of Homeland Security for construction of a second DCL at the Ysleta border crossing.
Among the key projects Congressman Reyes most recently worked to secure $91 million for new inspection facilities for the new Tornillo-Guadalupe Port of Entry and $3.5 million to support the construction of a new Customs and Border Protection Hangar at El Paso International Airport. He also shaped changes to the NAFTA-Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (TAAP) to better assist displaced workers.
PORTS Act - Inadequate staffing and outdated infrastructure at our land ports of entry are making America less safe. Congressman Reyes crafted legislation, the PORTS (Putting Our Resources Toward Security) Act, to dramatically increase funding and staffing levels at America's land ports of entry to help combat the illegal transport of drugs, money, and weapons between the United States and Mexico and reduce excessive bridge wait times. This critical legislation would provide $5 billion through 2016 to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), to repair and modernize infrastructure all U.S. land ports of entry, and would also provide funding for an additional 5,000 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to improve inspections and reduce traffic congestion. The PORTS Act is endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Border Trade Alliance, and the National Treasury Employees Union.
Protecting Border Communities
Congressman Reyes helped secure over $22 million for the City of El Paso through the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) to help protect critical infrastructure. Reyes also successfully fought efforts to eliminate funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), which has provided millions to El Paso law enforcement agencies to help defray the costs of dealing with undocumented immigrants.
Congressman Reyes won Congressional approval for two additional federal judges to the Western District of Texas and successfully fought for funding to support by border prosecutors and help alleviate the heavy workload that burdens our judicial system.
Border Tunnel Prevention Act - Between May 1990 to May 2011, 137 completed border tunnels have been discovered. Of these tunnels, 125 were found after September 11, 2001. Congressman Reyes introduced the Border Tunnel Prevention Act. The bill would enhance the 2006 Border Tunnel Prevention Act, legislation that criminalized the construction or financing of an unauthorized tunnel or subterranean passage across an international border. The measure would further deter tunnel activities by providing enhanced investigative tools to law enforcement and increasing options for the prosecution of these crimes.
Concealed Compartments Act - Congressman Reyes developed legislation to allow the seizure of vehicles with concealed compartments that could be used to smuggle or transport illicit drugs, cash, weapons, and people across the border giving our law enforcement community yet another tool to fight the cartel syndicates that are threatening the stability of cities like Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
Improving the Health of Border Residents
Congressman Reyes is a strong supporter of the Border Health Commission (BHC), which is the only entity in operation that is uniquely focused on the health challenges facing the border region and secured El Paso as the home of the BHC.
Border Health Security Act - In addition to securing funding for the Border Health Commission, Congressman Reyes introduced the Border Health Security Act to strengthen and expand the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission and its work as it enters its second decade. The Border Health Security would increase grant funding to states, local governments, tribal governments, or community health centers along the U.S.-Mexico border to improve infrastructure, access, and the delivery of health care services. The bill would provide additional funding for the BHC and would establish a health alert network to identify and communicate information quickly to health providers about emerging health care threats.
Press Releases
-
Congressman Reyes, U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce to Lead 16th Annual Border Issues Conference
9.18.2012
Press Releases
-
El Paso awarded $400K Grant to Make Improvements at the Bridge of the Americas
8.3.2012
Press Releases
-
Reyes' Border Tunnel Bill passes House of Representatives
5.16.2012
Press Releases
-
REYES BORDER TUNNEL BILL APPROVED BY HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
3.6.2012
Speeches and Statements
-
Reyes Statement on President Obama's visit to Arizona
1.26.2012
More Documents...
Related Files:
|
