Speech #1100083518

I appreciate my friend from Michigans concern about the northern border and tell him that yes. the amendment is meant to Increase staffing at both of our borders and it is not the intent of the amendment to favor one border over the other. The Appropriations Committee has been clear in its support for the Border Patrol and its mission of preventing entry into the Untied States of illegal aliens. terrorists. weapons of mass destruction and other illicit goods or Individuals. Further. in recognition of the importance of security at our northern border. the Appropriations Committee has directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to assign to the Northern Border 20 percent of the net increase in agents in fiscal year 2008.