Speech #1090102179

I look forward to a time when all of the security measures in that Act have been funded. The failure to fully fund the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act is an indication that Congress has not allotted enough resources to deal with the requirements for security in the fight against terrorism. Another example is the failure to enact my Rapid Response Border Protection Act of 2005. H.R. 4044. which would provide critical resources and support for the men and women who secure our borders. which is essential to our defense against terrorism. The resources and support in my bill would include the addition of 15.000 Border Patrol agents over the next five years. which would increase the number of agents from 11.000 to 26.000. With more than 8.000 miles of land and coastal borders to patrol continuously. it is evident that this increase is desperately needed if any semblance of control is to be achieved. The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be required to respond rapidly to border crises by deploying up to 1.000 additional Border Patrol agents to a State in which a border security emergency has been declared by the Governor. It also would include 100.000 more detention beds to ensure that those who are apprehended entering the United States unlawfully are sent home instead of being released into our communities. It would assist in cracking down on the problem of fraudulent documents used to enter unlawfully and remain in the United States by adding specialized enforcement agents and establishing cooperative mechanisms wilh State and local law enforcement agencies. And it includes provisions for critical equipment and infrastructure improvements. such as additional helicopters. power boats. policetype vehicles. portable computers. reliable radio communications. handheld GPS devices. body armor. and nightvision equipment. Those who object to the cost of such security measures need to recall the enormous costs. not just in monetary terms. of the last terrorist attacks. As Benjamin Franklin wisely noted neariy 270 years ago. "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." The total cost of my border security bill would only be a very small fraction of the amount being spent fighting terrorism overseas. If we want to prevent another terrorist attack on American soil. we must be prepared to devote whatever resources are necessary to keeping terrorists out of our country. This legislation is designed to help provide more resources for the now required greater utilization of the U.S. passport because of the 9/11 tragedy. Americans will need more passports and the State Department will need more staff. The same can be said for our border security taking short cuts and scrimping on homeland security as this only serves as an open invitation to future disastrous attacks.