Congresswoman criticizes Senate Appropriations Committee for failing to “include a single dime for border security”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is urging Arizona’s U.S. Senators to fight for $137.5 million in critical border security investments.
In a letter sent today to Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl, the congresswoman asked for the lawmakers’ assistance in securing funding for new Border Patrol agents, the establishment of Border Patrol forward bases and a series of other measures.
Giffords, whose 8th Congressional District includes 114 miles of border, wants the funds included in supplemental appropriations legislation now before the Senate. She asked McCain and Kyl to add amendments for border security funding to the bill.
“Ideally, these amendments will provide the necessary funds to immediately deploy the National Guard to our southern border,” she wrote.
Giffords told McCain and Kyl that the Senate Appropriations Committee “made a serious mistake recently when it approved supplemental appropriations legislation that failed to include a single dime for border security measures.”
The congresswoman called the supplemental funding legislation “a fitting vehicle to get much-needed resources to our region.”
The text of Giffords’ letter is below. You can also view it by clicking here.
May 24, 2010
Senator John McCain
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Jon Kyl
730 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senators McCain and Kyl:
The Senate Appropriations Committee made a serious mistake recently when it approved supplemental appropriations legislation that failed to include a single dime for border security measures. I am writing to urge you to fight for these critical investments.
As you know, the murder of Cochise County rancher Rob Krentz has heightened the insecurity faced by southern Arizonans living and working along our border with Mexico. The federal government’s inability to secure our border is unacceptable and this supplemental funding package is a fitting vehicle to get much-needed resources to our region.
I spearheaded a letter to Speaker Pelosi along with 52 House colleagues asking that the supplemental appropriations package include the border security funding priorities below. I encourage you to offer amendments when the Senate bill comes to the floor later this week. Ideally, these amendments will provide the necessary funds to immediately deploy the National Guard to our southern border.
I understand the desire by Leadership to keep the supplemental a “clean” bill. However, spending for Haiti and states hit by natural disasters has been included in the Senate bill. I would argue, and I think you would agree, that the violence in southern Arizona is a crisis that must be urgently addressed. The supplemental is an appropriate medium for this funding.
$30 million for the National Guard Counter Drug program. The National Guard Counterdrug Program conducts a full spectrum campaign that bridges the gap between Department of Defense and Non-DoD institutions in the fight against illicit drugs and transnational threats to the homeland. The program contributes military support for local, state and federal Law Enforcement Agencies. The program's goal is to provide the nation with a drug-free, mission-ready force to defend the interests of its citizens at home and abroad. The soldiers and airmen involved in the program work at all levels of government to anticipate, deter, and defeat threats along our border in order to enhance national security and protect our society. We are requesting an additional $30 million for activities along the U.S.-Mexico Border.
$50 million for Operation Stonegarden. Operation Stonegarden provides resources to enhance law enforcement preparedness and operational readiness along the borders of the U.S. The program is designed to promote cooperation and coordination between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in a joint mission to secure the U.S. borders. Since this source of funding is often the only federal resource available to local law enforcement agencies in rural areas, an increase is needed to keep up with the law enforcement demands of the border, especially in a time when we are trying to prevent the spread of violence from Mexico. We are requesting an additional $50 Million in FY10 for Operation Stonegarden for the U.S. Mexico border.
$25 million for the U.S. Border Patrol activities. The Border Patrol’s goal is to establish effective control over America’s border with Mexico through the use of personnel, tactical infrastructure, and technology. With assaults against Border Patrol increased from last year’s levels and violence raging across the border in Mexico, further investments are needed to equip agents with the tools they need to secure the border and ensure their own safety. Funding will go toward forward operating bases, communications equipment, surveillance equipment, officer support equipment and other resources. We are requesting an additional $25 million for Border Patrol activities along the U.S.-Mexico border.
$32.2 million to hire new Border Patrol agents. CBP is responsible for protecting our nation’s borders, and ensuring robust levels of agents in the field is critical to achieving operational control of the border. The recent sharp increase in violence in the border region underscores the dangers faced by agents in the field, and the need for more Customs and Border Protection agents has never been more prevalent. We are requesting $32.2 million for additional Border Patrol agents.
I look forward to your consideration of this critically important border security request. Thank you for your service to our country.
Sincerely yours,
Gabrielle Giffords
Member of Congress