The Department needs to be nimble and responsive. not bureaucratic and slow. It needs to target limited resources on future threats. not simply the threats posed by the attacks of September 11. The conference agreement includes numerous improvements to the Presidents budget. particularly with regard to border security. air cargo security. improved screening of airline passengers for explosives. funds to hire firefighters. as well as funding to protect the allhazards Emergency Management Performance Grant Program. The conference agreement builds on the bipartisan border security initiatives I offered along with the very able Senator. Mr. CRAIG. with Chairman GREGGS support to the 2005 emergency supplemental bill. Between the supplemental enacted in May and this bill. Congress will have increased the number of Border Patrol agents by 1.500. Congress will have increased the number of immigration investigators. agents. and detention officers by over 750. and Congress will have increased the number of detention beds by at least 1.800. I commend all of the conferees and in particular the inimitable chairman. JUDD GREGG. for that action.
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border security Border Patrol immigration