Speech #1100069059

It is also pretty clear to this Senator that anything similar to S. 1639 is dead on arrival in the House of Representatives. I question the rationale of passing a bill that has so many flaws when several Members of the House have said this bill will not even be considered by the House. Would it not be better for all of us to have a more open and fair debate on border security and immigration that is not subjected to unnecessary deadlines and closeddoor decislonmaking? In addition. as a border State Senator. I know firsthand the need to secure our borders because every day my constituents tell me about the problems they face because of illegal entries into our country. We have a crisis on our borders that must be resolved. However. instead of pursuing immediate emergency funding to help secure our border. S. 1639 cobbles border security improvements and funding with some concerning Immigration reforms. While the bill also provided $4.4 billion to fund these border security initiatives. that money was contingent upon final passage of the bill by Congress. something that appears to be less than a sure thing. What is clear to me is that the American people want the measures In the billlike providing 20.000 Border Patrol agents. constructing 370 miles of border fencing and 300 miles of border vehicle barriers. putting 105 radar and camera towers on the border. and using four unmanned aerial vehicles for border securityin place before we address the millions of unauthorized aliens living and working in the United States. Therefore. I believe it would be more appropriate to provide $4.4 billion in border security funding in a separate emergency spending bill to fund these border security initiatives. Additionally. I remain concerned about the amendment process associated with this bill.