There is no question about it. The real issue is that the offset being used creates a Hobsons choice for almost everyone here. I suspect. because the practical effect of a 5.7 percent cut would be that we would have to reduce Border Patrol agents by about 750. We would have to reduce detention beds by about 1.100. We have attempted very hard to increase Border Patrol agents in this bill and increase detention beds. Yet we havent funded the wall specifically as a result of our efforts to do these increases. The effect on the Coast Guard. the Senator from Washington alluded to. would probably be that the number of fast boats which we intended to buy would be reduced significantly. and our capacity to arm helicopters would be reduced from what we hoped to arm60 helicopters. We have. at the most. armed probably 50. maybe 55. There is a real implication to this amendment. It has an implication in the things we are doing relative to border security which will be impacted by it. I am totally sympathetic to the need to make this investment in this fencing activity. And I believe within the Departments funds relative to capital improvements there is also some money which could be put there but nowhere near the dollars he believes are necessary with which the Department needs to continue construction.
Keywords matched
border security Border Patrol