Speech #1090066962

It is not an easy task. but the purpose of bringing the bill to the floor is to give us an opportunity to try to adjust those priorities. I attempt to do so in this amendment in several ways. In this amendment I increase the funding in two general areas: first. in the area of border security and prosecution of illegal aliens who have committed crimes. an area that I think many people would say is in crisis right now. the problem with securing our borders. the problem with illegal aliens. and specifically the problem of dealing with the costs associated with illegal aliens who are committing crimes. violent crimes and otherwise. In this amendment I increase funding for the Criminal Alien Assistance Program by $60 million. It is still well short of the funding that has been provided in the companion bill in the House. but it is an increase which I believe will be well used. It deals in the area of illegal immigration and criminal alien assistance that I think most everyone agrees is in a crisis situation now with the state of emergency having been declared in parts of the Southwest to deal with this type of problem. Similarly. this amendment increases funding by $18 million for the Southwest Border Initiative that deals with prosecution. helping our Southwestern States deal with the costs associated with prosecuting aliens that have committed crimes. It brings funding up to the Presidents level. and I think the Presidents request in this particular area was well warranted. given how much attention has been given to the problem of illegal aliens in recent years. This increases funding in this critical area by $18 million. My amendment also provides additional funding of $15 million to transitional housing for women who have been exposed to domestic violence.