Speech #1090139489

This bill sponsored by my friend from Kentucky. the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. Mr. ROGERS. provides the funding needed to help secure our Nations borders and revitalize immigration enforcement. enhance port security. support our first responders and empower them to effectively deal with disasters while also providing the fiscal discipline and oversight needed to ensure the Department is accomplishing its mission as effectively and efficiently as possible. This legislation provides for a total of over $32 billion for the critical domestic and defense activities of the Department of Homeland Security. This funding is balanced along with an array of Federal programs that will ensure our Nation against terrorist attacks. including critical antiterrorism and border security activities. as well as emerging threats like nuclear detection and enhanced port container and cargo security. This legislation provides nearly $20 billion for immigration enforcement and border security. including over $2.3 billion for border security. which will add 1.200 new Border Patrol agents for a total of 13.500 agents authorized as overall agents. Over $4 billion for immigration and customs enforcement. which will add 1.212 new officers for a total of 11.500 overall agents. And $115 million for border security technology and tactical infrastructure. Additionally. this bill allocates increased funding for Customs and Border Patrol air interdiction operations. maintenance and procurement. Last year the Department consolidated the Office of Border Patrol Air and Marine Assets with the Office of Air and Marine Operations in the newly formed CBP Air. In 2004 and again last year. in 2005. I visited San Angelo. Texas. to witness firsthand how our air assets were being used to secure our southern borders and to prevent illegal drugs from entering this country. Since then. I have strongly supported the balanced multimission AMO strategy of pushing out the border to combat illegal immigration. narcotics trafficking and smuggling of other illegal cargoes. I believe that a vigorous coordinated Department of Homeland Security air program is essential to our national security. and I continue to work closely with our Members. including MARCIA BLACKBURN. Chairman ROGERS.