Speech #990259197

In short. the Members of the House have given so many inconsistent signals this year on the part of the bill that is funded under the subcommittee I am privileged to chair that it is impossible to know what the Members really want. Also. the money is so insufficient for this part of the bill that Members should be warned that most of you will probably not like the conference agreement when it is concluded because there is no way to fund more services with about 8 percent less money and do it adequately. For example. numerous Members by letters and other communications and votes on authorizations bills clearly indicated that they want more people working on border problems and in the Immigration and Naturalization Service. but the Frenzel amendment by a vote of 213 to 125 reduced the Immigration and Naturalization Service funding by $30.4 million and the majority of members on the Mexican border who were so strong for increases voted for the cut. I hope that Members will think about some of these things that I have discussed and will help to change the procedures in the next Congress so that we can avoid a continuing resolution next year. and also be more cognizant of the fact that funding levels are determined by several bills prior to the time we reach a continuing resolution. and that inconsistent votes during the year to cut and then add then cut again do not contribute to the budget obligation of priority. I urge passage of the bill so we can go to conference and finish the process the best we can for fiscal year