Speech #860122281

It was fully considered by the committee before it was reported. I desire to make a statement on the bill and also to present an amendment which was offered by the committee. The committee amendment to S. 1654. as reported by the Committee on Public Works with an amendment. would exempt certain buildings of the Customs and the Immigration and Naturalization Services from the provisions of the Public Buildings Act. The Immigration and Naturalization Service is in a different situation. That Service does not need buildings of the type of the average public buildings. Generally. the Immigration and Naturalization Service has buildings on the borders. to accommodate immigrants who are arrested and are detained for several days. So it has no need there for buildings of the type of the public buildings which are constructed in the large cities of the country. Section 1252(c) of title 8 of the United States Code covers the authorization for the acquisition of land and the erection of or the remodeling of buildings. sheds. enclosures. or quarters. for the detention of aliens awaiting deportation. Mr. President. buildings costing $2 million or $3 million will not be built on the borders. to accommodate such persons temporarily. Section 68 of title 19 United States Code contains the authorization for the acquisition of land and the erection along our Canadian and Mexican borders of buildings. sheds. and office quarters. including living quarters for officers. where none are otherwise available. for employees of the Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The total cost of these facilities. including the cost of the site. shall not exceed $30.000 for any one project for the use of one department. or $60.000 where the facilities are provided for the joint use of the two departments. The facilities erected along our borders for the use of the Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service are. for the most part. small and inexpensive buildings. usually located in isolated places. They may be constructed with local labor and indigenous materialsadobe. cinder blocks. asbestos shingles. or local lumberand without extensive plans and specifications. The number constructed would be very small. probably not to exceed 2 or 3 a year. The committee believes it fitting that the Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service be permitted to continue operating under existing law. as at present. without the necessity of obtaining prior approval for each small facility constructed. or of having the responsibility delegated to them by the Administrator of General Services Administration. Under the provisions of Senate bill 1654. border stations are included under the definition of public buildings. In the past. the Committee on Public Works has considered projects for construction of border stations at Brownsville.