Speech #1090178852

Speaker. I bring good news for all Americans who want to see our borders are secure from those who are crashing those borders. We are ending the ageold catchandrelease program that has allowed millions of illegal aliens to flood our country. You will hear more about that during this debate today. 1 hope. The recent anniversaries of the 9/11 attacks and the 2005 hurricane disasters keep us focused on why we are here today: to protect our citizens and our homeland from any threat to our society and our economy. be it terrorism or natural catastrophe. The funding in this conference agreement ensures the Department of Homeland Security can address the perils that face our communities and reduce our vulnerability to them. The fiscal 2007 conference agreement provides a total of $34.8 billion for the Department. including an additional $1.8 billion in emergency funds devoted to border security. The total provided is $2.3 billion above the current year and $2.7 billion above what the President asked us for. when you exclude disaster relief funding for Katrina. This includes more than $21.3 billion for border security and immigration enforcement. $4.34 billion for port. container. and cargo security. $3.4 billion for first responders across the country. $6.4 billion for transportation security. $1.4 billion for research. development. September 29. 2006 CONGRE and deployment of innovative technologies. and $1.8 billion to protect national and critical infrastructure. Five years ago our Nation suffered its most devastating terrorist attack. Since that tragic day. a vigorous national debate over our vulnerabilities. fueled by historic levels of illegal immigration. has resulted in one very clear conclusion: we must do all we can to gain control over our borders and our coastlines to preserve the sovereignty and integrity of our immigration and preserve the strength of our economy. This conference agreement will provide the resources and direction to build upon the Departments progress and transform our approach to border security from a fragmented. uncoordinated effort into a truly integrated system capable of producing results. This includes a staggering $1.2 billion to secure the borders with a system of fencing. a system of infrastructure. a system of technology. 1.500 new Border Patrol agents. 6.700 new additional detention bed space for those caught. 650 additional CBP officers. and over $1.7 billion for the procurement of aircraft and vessels to patrol those borders. This massive infusion of moneys will accelerate the Departments goal of obtaining operational control of these borders in less than 5 years. a goal that has become an unquestioned necessity since 9/11. I want to emphasize that with all these resources we are pouring into this effort will come accountability. We are requiring bimonthly status reports on the Departments performance and their expenditure of funds on border security. We want to know what is happening every 2 weeks. We are withholding $950 million until the Department provides a detailed border security expenditure plan. They wont get the money until we see the plan. I believe in planning your work and working your plan. And we are requiring. in bill language. strategic plans for the Secure Border Initiative and port and cargo security. We are absolutely committed to holding the Department accountable and providing the American people with the results that they are demanding of us. In addition to border security and immigration enforcement. the conference report balances resources across other critical areas of homeland security including: One. almost $900 million to prevent weapons of mass destruction from entering the country. These funds will enable DHS to speed the deployment of radiation detectors and significantly enhance screening for vehicles and cargo. Two. $2.5 billion to fund and reform FEMA.