Speech #1090064582

I thank the gentleman. I am proud to have the gentleman with me as coauthor of legislation we have filed with 44 other Members of the House to use the mechanisms the Founding Fathers left us in the Constitution to help defend this country against the threat of terrorists who the FBI Director has confirmed in sworn testimony that suspected terrorists and individuals from countries with known al Qaeda connections are entering the United States illegally. using false Hispanic identities. a subject the gentleman is talking about here today. to make sure we accurately identify people entering the U.S. Federal law enforcement authorities have now confirmed what we have known. and that is these individuals are trying to sneak into the U.S.. crossing our southern border. hiding among the tremendous wave of illegal immigration entering this country. and the Federal Government simply does not have the manpower or resources to protect our international borders. In a very real sense. 9/11 deputized every American. but not every American can serve in our Armed Forces or join the FBI or the CIA and fight on the front in the war on terror. So the gentleman from Texas and I. and 45 other Members of Congress. have filed legislation invoking congressional power under the Constitution to authorize all eligible American citizens who have no criminal record. no history of mental illness to serve in a genuine militia force for the sole purpose of protecting our borders. The Border Protection Corps would serve truly as a neighborhood watch border patrol. These individuals who would serve under the direct control of our State Governors in those border States along the border would be trained. equipped. and serve under the direction of the Governor in cooperation with local and State law enforcement authorities. Mr.