Speech #1090143736

I believe the Congress should have provided $648 million in additional port security improvements. The Coast Guard has only 34 inspectors to review security plans at foreign ports. We should have provided $180 million more for customs and border protection. including $80 million for Border Patrol vehicle replacement. and $100 million more for border infrastructure and technology. We should have provided $50 million more for an upgrade of law enforcement communications. We should have provided $80 million the Senate requested for Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle replacement. We should have provided the amount that the Senate requested. $227 million. for additional port security grants. The Senate also asked us to provide $211 million in additional funds for rail and seaport inspection equipment. It asked us to provide $132 million more for radiation portal monitors to accelerate deployment to screen 100 percent of inbound containers. Alas. this bill contains none of those items. So I think it is grossly deficient In meeting the needs of border security and port security. I regret that. But unfortunately I cannot do much about it because the majority party was determined to exclude these items.