Speech #1090173391

I sit on the Subcommittee on Crime. I have toured the Caribbean and seen some of the work of our DEA agents. It is unfortunate that we mix drug violence at the border. which does occur. and we need funding of drug enforcement agents with this issue of immigration. Drug dealers use any mode so they may be engaged in smuggling. but that issue needs its own hard crush of the law. it needs its own separate funding. it needs its own enhancement of drug enforcement agents who are out there working every day and we are underfunding them. So when we talk about immigration. I go to my seat by simply saying. bring the tunnel prosecution on. This bill was offered by Senator FEINSTEIN on the Senate side. But the method and the methodology is failed. We need comprehensive immigration reform. we need a pathway to citizenship. we need to stop the farce. and we certainly need to stop telling the American people by passing these bills without funding that they are going to be any more secure than they were yesterday. Democrats put their money where their mouth was and offered any number of amendments since 2004. all to be defeated by this Republican majority. I would think the question needs to be asked. are you serious. or you playing with the minds and hearts of the American people? My belief is that the American people deserve better. and comprehensive immigration reform is the call of the day. I rise in opposition to the Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2006. H.R. 4830.