Rep. Bilirakis Supports Passage of DHS Authorization Bill |
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May 10, 2007
WASHINGTON
- Continuing his commitment to improving the safety and security of
the American people, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), member of the House
Homeland Security Committee, voted on Wednesday to help pass the 2008 Homeland
Security Department funding bill.
The Department of Homeland Security Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (H.R. 1684), which approves $39.8 billion for
Homeland Security programs in the budget year beginning October 1, 2007, passed
the House by a 296-126 vote. Congressman Bilirakis had worked closely, and in a
bipartisan fashion, with his colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee to
move H.R. 1684 to the full House for a vote.
On Wednesday, Homeland Security
Committee Ranking Member Peter King (R-NY) thanked Congressman Bilirakis for
his efforts on the Committee to produce this legislation. "I'd like to thank
Rep. Bilirakis for his hard work and leadership on these issues," Ranking
Member King said. "He understands that we need to enact strong policies
in order to ensure the continued security of our homeland, and I salute him for
his efforts on this legislation."
Although Congressman
Bilirakis voted for final passage of H.R. 1684, he expressed disappointment
that the original legislation passed out of the Homeland Security Committee had
not remained intact. After the House Homeland Security Committee had
unanimously approved the legislation, nearly 40 provisions had been stripped by
a Manger's Amendment offered by House Democratic leaders.
"I believe that this bill
represents a missed opportunity to enhance our country's immigration
enforcement, help stop terrorism, and improve our ability to respond should the
unthinkable happen again," said Bilirakis during debate on the House floor.
"Though I plan to support its final passage here, I implore my friends on the
other side of the aisle to work with us to move forward on the many bipartisan
provisions which would have made this bill much better."
An amendment offered by
Congressman Bilirakis was among those stripped from H.R. 1684. Bilirakis had
secured a provision to establish a pilot program for mobile biometric
identification of apprehended aliens at sea (Sec. 906).
"H.R. 1684 currently includes
an amendment I sponsored that was adopted during the Committee's consideration
of this bill which would improve maritime immigration enforcement," Rep.
Bilirakis said. "This capability is critically important since we currently do
not have the ability to verify the identity of apprehended migrants, previous
immigration violators, criminals, and possible terrorists in the maritime
environment."
Despite the numerous
provisions gutted from the H.R. 1684, Congressman Bilirakis joined with his
colleagues in successfully approving a GOP proposal - as a motion-to-recommit -
adding a provision to the final bill that would strengthen an important
terrorist screening program.
He also supported an
amendment that would address the discrepancies that currently exist between
federal and Florida
State port credentialing
programs. Bilirakis had raised this very issue during a Homeland Security
Committee hearing last month.
"I have met with federal and
state maritime officials about this issue, and will continue to work with them
and monitor their progress toward finding a satisfactory resolution, said
Bilirakis. "This amendment will certainly provide them with another layer of
encouragement and support."
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