Should have signed it on the 5th of May.
...but is it funded?
This needs to be talked up like crazy. People need to see who is acting on this issue and who isn't. While the Republicans have dragged their feet, they've been moved along by popular sentiment and a few star leaders. The Dems are as resistant as a four-year old being forced to a macrame expo.
Yawn, nice gesture, but it'll never be built.
Secure Fence Act of 2006 (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)
--H.R.6061-- [That is a temporary link.]
snip
SEC. 3. CONSTRUCTION OF FENCING AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS IN BORDER AREA FROM PACIFIC OCEAN TO GULF OF MEXICO.
Section 102(b) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-208; 8 U.S.C. 1103 note) is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading by striking `Near San Diego, California´; and
(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
`(1) SECURITY FEATURES-
`(A) REINFORCED FENCING- In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide for least 2 layers of reinforced fencing, the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors--
`(i) extending from 10 miles west of the Tecate, California, port of entry to 10 miles east of the Tecate, California, port of entry;
`(ii) extending from 10 miles west of the Calexico, California, port of entry to 5 miles east of the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry;
`(iii) extending from 5 miles west of the Columbus, New Mexico, port of entry to 10 miles east of El Paso, Texas;
`(iv) extending from 5 miles northwest of the Del Rio, Texas, port of entry to 5 miles southeast of the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of entry; and
`(v) extending 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to the Brownsville, Texas, port of entry.
`(B) PRIORITY AREAS- With respect to the border described--
`(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), the Secretary shall ensure that an interlocking surveillance camera system is installed along such area by May 30, 2007, and that fence construction is completed by May 30, 2008; and
`(ii) in subparagraph (A)(v), the Secretary shall ensure that fence construction from 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to 15 southeast of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry is completed by December 31, 2008.
`(C) EXCEPTION- If the topography of a specific area has an elevation grade that exceeds 10 percent, the Secretary may use other means to secure such area, including the use of surveillance and barrier tools.´.
snip
Let's see how many of the major networks cover this signing.
So is it fully funded, or not?
ping
-- 164 House Democrats voted against H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act, which was passed by the House last December.
-- 131 House Democrats voted against H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006, an emergency measure that would mandate operational control of all borders and ports through enhanced Border Patrol operations, physical barriers, and state-of-the-art technology along the southwest border, including reinforced fencing.
-- 134 House Democrats voted against H.R. 6095, the Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006, a bill that would reaffirm the authority of State and local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws, authorize an increase in methods to prosecute alien smugglers, and end the policy of "catch and release" in the United States.
-- 91 House Democrats voted against H.R. 6094, the Community Protection Act, which would authorize the expedited removal of alien criminals, the detention of these dangerous criminals who for various reasons might not be able to be immediately deported, and tougher laws against illegal immigrants found to be members of street gangs.