Speech #1090172633

We voted on a motion to proceed to debate today and invoked cloture on that motion by getting a substantial number of votes. Now we are in the next phase of the rule process in which we would actually move to the bill. debate it. and possibly amend it. I voted this morning to move this bill forward because I believe it is important for the American people to understand that we are very serious about border control. If this bill serves that purpose. then that is a step in the right direction. It is not my intent to come here and say it is a bad bill. It is my intent to come to the Senate floor and talk about what we have done to date in the area of border security and that a piece of paper. a piece of legislation. does not a safe border make. It establishes the legal basis for which we build upon a foundation for safe border and border action. but it is the financing of it. it Is the funding of the necessary construction. the supplying and the training of Border Patrol men and women. and creating the devices and vehicles necessary to effectively monitor and control our borders that build a safe border. Step 1 is a very critical process this Senate. and the Congress itself. has been involved in for some time. that is. the recognition of a broken immigration system and an unsecured border structure in our country that has allowed. over two decades. possibly 8 to 10 million foreign nationals to come into this country illegally. America didnt awaken to this issue until after 9/11. It awakened because it found that some who had come. legally and illegally. were intent on delivering the citizens of this country an evil act. and that happened.