Speech #1090175499

Speaker. I rise in support of House Resolution Let me just note that platitudes are not enough. When it really counts. the Border Patrol does need our support. and that includes building a fence. which some people who perhaps would be happy to sing the praises of the Border Patrol are not willing to help them with something that they consider to be essential to securing their job. Tonight. we are commending the service of 12.000 men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol. They are. in fact. performing an invaluable service on our border. putting their lives on the line daily to protect us. all of us. They are protecting us from the effects of illegal immigration which are being felt in my State dramatically. They are protecting us from drug smugglers. human traffickers. and. yes. terrorists. Yet. as we declare our support today for these brave people who have been protecting us. we should note that this administration. that this administrations U.S. Attorneys Office has targeted two U.S. Border Patrol agents. Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. The U.S. Attorneys Office has destroyed their careers and destroyed their lives and thrown their families into turmoil. This administration. which has a questionable record on border security. has decided to throw the book at these two agents seeking the harshest possible punishment. What for? For procedural violations that should have only resulted in a reprimand and this now has been turned into felonies by the U.S.