Speech #1090055964

I opposed the Ensign and McCain amendments Nos. 1219 and 1171 to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill. H.R. 2360. These amendments would have shifted $566 million from grants for first responders. including our State and local police officers. firefighters. and emergency health providers. to provide for an increase in detention beds and border security personnel. Those cuts in first responder funds would have been in addition to the $467 million in first responder cuts already included in the underlying bill. resulting in a cut of 43 percent below fiscal year 2005. Such a cut in funding for equipping and training our first responders at a time when the Nation is at risk of a terrorist attack would not be appropriate. In addition. the Ensign amendment would have provided new spending power to the Homeland Security Secretary. which is not necessary or appropriate. Having successfully sponsored an amendment to the fiscal year 2005 Iraq supplemental that added 500 Border Patrol agents. 218 immigration investigators. and detention officers. and 1.950 detention beds. and having worked closely with Chairman GREGO to see that the underlying bill includes robust funding for our border security. I know that such efforts can be achieved without cutting vital funds for our first responders or providing new spending authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Indeed. if the amendments were adopted. the funds would likely have sat in the Treasury because the Department could not hire and train more personnel than the levels provided in the committee bill.