Speech #1090175502

JONES from North Carolina. H. Res. 1030. and I enthusiastically affirm the invaluable service that the United States Border Patrol agents are performing for America as they stand in the way. in the bridge. if you will. on the northern and southern border. In the darkness of night. in the coldness of night. in the warmness of night. in the rainiest of nights. and in the greatest disasters that may face us. Border Patrol agents are there to protect us. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment. and 1 ask that we be able to address the questions that are being raised in Texas in fairness and opportunity for fairness. I rise in support of House Resolution 1030. which would express the sense of the House of Representatives that the Border Patrol is performing an invaluable service to the United States. and that the House of Representatives fully supports the more than 12.000 Border Patrol agents. Border Patrol agents have patrolled our borders since 1924. and they have an impressive record of accomplishments. For instance. in FY 2005. Border Patrol Agents made almost 1.2 million arrests of people for illegally entering the country. and they seized more than 12.300 pounds of cocaine and more than 1.2 million pounds of marijuana. The total street value of drugs interdicted in FY 2005 was more than $1.4 billion. The Border Patrol also is charged with the responsibility of preventing terrorists and terrorists weapons. including weapons of mass destruction. from entering the United States. Although we should express our support for the Border Patrol. we also should provide the Border Patrol agents with the equipment and resources they need to secure the border. 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. I have introduced a bill that would provide the Border Patrol with the equipment and resources they need. the Rapid Response Border Protection Act of 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. particularly if 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. Nevertheless. it also is important to express our support for the hard work and dedication of the men and women in the Border Patrol. and of course I further salute all of the men and women who provide service in the securing of our Homeland at the northern and southern borders and at our ports. ports of entry and coastlines. I ask my colleagues to vote for H. Res. 1030.