Speech #1090175482

And I know. as I see Mr. ROGERS and my good friend. the ranking member. I see the word "accountability." not wasting dollars and making sure that we go in the right direction in terms of expending these dollars for our Border Patrol so that we make sure that we are an efficient department. I want to do that. too. I close on this note: The question is always asked whether or not we are safer today than we were 5 years ago. Certainly what is missing is we have not kept up with the 9/11 Commission report in providing Border Patrol agents in the numbers that we should have provided. Certainly any statement that we make today on the floor that commends Border Patrol agents and thanks them but also talks about having more of them is a step in the right direction. And I would only ask my colleagues to realize that in being safe at home. we have to confront the issues dealing with our conflict in Iraq. But I do rise to support this legislation. 1 thank the gentleman for yielding. and I ask my colleagues to support the More Border Patrol Agents Now Act of 2006. And I thank the distinguished gentleman from Florida and the full committee. I rise in support of the More Border Patrol Agents Now Act of 2006. H.R. 6160. The More Border Patrol Agents Now Act would require the Homeland Security Secretary to develop a plan to determine how the Border Patrol can better recruit and retain Border Patrol agents. It also would establish bonuses for agents who agree to serve for a specified period of time. In addition. it would waive the offset that reemployed annuitants currently have to pay if they return to government service after retirement. The authority to provide these incentives would terminate five years after the enactment of H.R. 6160. I agree that we should require the Homeland Security Secretary to develop a plan to determine how the Border Patrol can better recruit and retain Border Patrol agents. I also agree that we should authorize the incentives. But much more is needed to deal effectively with the retention and recruitment issues of the Border Patrol. We also need to provide the Border Patrol with the equipment and resources they need to secure the border. I have introduced a bill that would provide the Border Patrol with the equipment and resources they need. the Rapid Response Border Protection Act o 2005. H.R. 4044. H.R. 4044 would add 15.000 Border Patrol agents over the next five years. increasing the number of agents from 11.000 to 26.000. With more than 8.000 miles of land and coastal borders to patrol continuously. it is evident that this increase is desperately needed. particulary it they are to be able to respond in sufficient numbers when heavily armed smugglers are encountered. H.R. 4044 also has provisions for body armor. special weapons. and night vision equipment. H.R. 4044 is strongly endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council and the National Homeland Security Council. organizations that represent the frontline employees who enforce our immigration and customs laws. 52. Pt. 15 September 26. 2006 I have said often that a piecemeal approach to immigration relorm will not work. We need comprehensive immigration reform that will fix our broken immigration system. such as would be provided by my Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act. H.R. 2092. But even a good immigration system will not stop drug smugglers from crossing our borders illegally. For that. we need a Border Patrol with enough agents to patrol the entire border effectively. and they have to have the weapons and other equipment that is necessary for confrontations with heavily armed drug smugglers and the other dangerous criminals who cross the border illegally. Nevertheless. the More Border Patrol Agents Now Act is a step in the right direction. I urge you to vote for it.