Speech #1090123802

As we approach yet another month of debris. confused leadership. failure to supervise and monitor expenditures from this administration. we know how much more needs to be done to rebuild New Orleans and the gulf coast region. Here we are. about to have a vote in a few hours on an amendmentreally. two amendments--as to whether we are also going to face up to our responsibilities along our border. and how we are going to pay for that. Both the Gregg amendment and the Reid amendment recognize the critical need for increased border security. I have long maintained it is unconscionable to think that in our postSeptember 11 world we still do not know the identities of people who enter our country. stay illegally in our country. and may or may not exit our country. Over the past several weeks. we have seen agreement in the Senate that securing our borders must be a top priority and a major component of whatever immigration reform we consider. Now. there are those who are. frankly. misguided and demagogic in their claims that all we need is border security. We know that is not the case. Senator KENNEDY. who is in the Chamber at this moment. has been a leader on immigration reform for decades. He knows if you do not have comprehensive immigration reform. you do not deal with the challenges we confront. We all are in agreement we have to do more to secure our porous borders. The Reid amendment is a step in the right direction because it does provide $1.9 billion to strengthen our borders. These funds would be used to replace and upgrade law enforcement communications. provide Border Patrol agents with air and land vehicles. expand air operations for Customs and border protection. invest $100 million in sensor and surveillance technology that will help our Border Patrol agents be more effective. If we can succeed in securing our borders. something that we have not yet succeeded in doing. then we can turn our attention as a nation and focus our energies and our resources on other credible threats against our homeland. I commend Senator REIDS efforts to direct resources to strengthening our borders. I know he would agree with me that obtaining these additional funds should not be mistaken for comprehensive immigration reform. We still need comprehensive immigration reform that secures our borders. creates a better set of agreements and understandings with our neighbors to the south as to what they are going to do to stop the flow of Illegal immigrants through their countries. particularly Mexico. and imposes and enforces tough sanctions against employers who employ illegal immigrants. After all. these people would not be risking their lives if there wasnt a job waiting for them at the other end of their dangerous journey. make sure we dont disadvantage people who have waited legally for their opportunity to come here to join a family member and to get a job that has been promised. We need to do something to help alleviate the financial burden on local communities--not just along the border but. frankly. in New Yorkthat are paying health care and education and law enforcement costs because this Federal Government cant figure out how to run an immigration system. Yes. we need an earned pass to citizenship to bring out of the shadows the 11 or 12 million hardworking immigrants who are here and give them a chance through paying back taxes. going through a background check. learning English. and waiting their turn to become legal. We know what comprehensive reform looks like. And border security is absolutely paramount. but passing the Gregg amendment is not the end of immigration reform. I hope everyone understands that. My colleague from New Hampshire agrees that we need to increase border security. but he would cut needed funds for our troops in the name of border security. The Gregg amendment would take money from troop pay. body armor. and even from the joint improvised explosive device funds. That is a false choice. and it is a wrong choice.