The Department of Defense recently announced that it will soon finalize the certifications of all of these teams. I will continue to work to ensure that the National Guard receives the funds it needs to perform Its homeland security operations. The bill would appropriate the funds needed to hire 3.000 additional border patrol agents. This important provision will help us secure our borders and restore credibility to our Immigration system. While I was deeply disappointed that the Senate was unable to reach a bipartisan compromise to Implement comprehensive immigration reform. I am pleased that the bill will help improve our border security. I also supported an amendment offered by Senator GRAHAM to appropriate an additional $3 billion for additional border agents. infrastructure and technology. I was concerned that the amendment was not offset and that It authorized building 700 miles of fencing. which has not been demonstrated to be a realistic or costeffective method of securing the border. However. I supported the amendment because the personnel. infrastructure. and technology provisions represent important steps toward border security. which is one of our top homeland security priorities. The bill would permit States to enact chemical security regulations that are stronger than Federal regulations. Chemical security regulations are an urgent homeland security priority. and I support the ability of the States to set tougher standards.
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border patrol border security Immigration immigration