Speech #1030098863

Mr. Speaker. the chairmen of the HouseSenate conference committee. and all the members of the conference committee. are to be commended for their diligence in crafting a conference report which I believe all Members should support. Under the leadership of the chairmen of the conference committee--the gentleman from Iowa and the gentleman from South Carolinaand with the help of a revised 602(b) allocation. the conferees were able to make some important improvements over the Housepassed bill. particularly in high priority areas such as law enforcement. and immigration controls. In addition. the conferees have placed controls on U.N. peacekeeping. For the Department of Justice. an area of particular concern to many Members of this body. the conference agreement provides a $130 million increase over the Housepassed bill. A sizable portion of this increase finances a comprehensive immigration initiative which will allow us not only to detect and apprehend. but also to detain and deport. illegal aliens. The conference report provides a $90 million increase over the Housepassed bill for immigration control initiatives. a $129 million increase over fiscal year 1993. Not only does the agreement put 600 additional border patrol agents in the field as provided in the House bill. it also funds construction and expansion of four INS detention facilities. and increased detention and deportation facilities at airports and seaports. items which were not included in the Housepassed bill. To fight the war on crime and drugs. the conference agreement provides funds above the House level for the FBI. the DEA. and for assistance grants for State and local law enforcement. For the Commerce Department. the conference report provides increases above the House for the administrations technology initiatives.