This discussion between appropriation and authorization went on last month. So, I asked my rep what the real story was.
He told me that Hunter is correct. The fence was authorized and the money was appropriated and sitting in Homeland Security’s budget for that purpose-building the fence.
However, there were people in Washington who did not want the fence built who were trying to take back the appropriated funds to keep the fence from being built.
It looks like all you did was link to a Fox News story about what the democrats and RINOS are doing- finding ways to take back the already appropriated funds.
I am failing to see your evidence that Duncan Hunter is wrong on this. Your link confirms what Hunter and my rep have both said.
Legislation in the 109th Congress
The 109th Congress enacted three pieces of legislation concerning border fencing. The REAL ID Act (P.L. 109-13), as previously noted, expanded DHS’ waiver authority to expedite the construction of border fencing.
The Secure Fence Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-367) directed DHS to construct five stretches of border fencing totaling roughly 850 miles.78
The FY2007 DHS Appropriations Act (P.L. 109-295) provided $1.2 billion for the installation of fencing, infrastructure, and technology along the border; $31 million of this total was designated for the completion of the San Diego fence.79 In addition to these Acts, a number of bills with fencing related provisions were passed by the House and the Senate. H.R. 4437 which would have directed DHS to construct five stretches of fencing along the border, was passed by the House on December 16, 2005. S. 2611, which called for 370 miles of fencing to be constructed, was passed by the Senate on May 25, 2006.
S.Amdt. 4788 was added to the Department of Defense Appropriation bill, H.R. 5631, on August 2, 2006, and would have appropriated $1.8 billion to the National Guard for the construction of border fencing. H.R. 5631 was passed by the Senate on September 7, 2006; however, this fencing provision was stripped from the bill during conference.
P.L. 109-295, the FY2007 DHS Appropriations Act, provided $1.2 billion in funding for border fencing, infrastructure, and technology; combined with the supplemental appropriation provided by P.L. 109-234, the conferees noted that DHS would have $1.5 billion for border infrastructure construction in FY2007.80 The conferees directed DHS to submit an expenditure plan for this funding within 60 days of the bill’s enactment, and withheld $950 million of the funding until the plan is received and approved by the House and Senate Committees. However, the act did not place any restrictions on how DHS is to apportion this appropriation between fencing, infrastructure, and technology.
P.L. 109-367, the Secure Fence Act, originated in the House as H.R. 6061 and was passed on September 14, 2006. H.R. 6061 was passed by the Senate on September 29, 2006 and signed into law on October 26, 2006. The act directed DHS to construct two-layered reinforced fencing and additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors along five stretches of the southwest border. CBP has estimated that these stretches of fencing will total roughly 850 miles81 of the southern border. The five stretches of the border that DHS was required to fence were the 20 miles around Tecate, CA; from Calexico, CA to Douglas, AZ; from Columbus, NM to El Paso, TX; from Del Rio, TX to Eagle Pass, TX; and from Laredo, TX to Brownsville, TX. The act designated the roughly 370 mile portion of the fence between Calexico, CA, and Douglas, AZ, a priority area and directed DHS to ensure that “an interlocking surveillance camera system” is installed along this area by May 30, 2007, and that the fence is completed in this area by May 30, 2008. The act also designated a 30-mile stretch around Laredo, TX, as a priority area and directed DHS to complete this fencing by December 31, 2008. This language was similar to that passed earlier by the House in H.R. 4437. The fencing provisions in H.R. 4437 were largely identical to those in H.R. 6061, except that H.R. 4437 featured earlier construction deadlines for the priority areas identified by one year for the Calexico, CA, to Douglas, AZ, stretch of fencing and by two years for the 30-mile stretch around Laredo, TX.
In addition to the bills discussed there were a number of bills in the 109th Congress that would have expanded the current fencing and other forms of barriers at the international land border. Some of these bills would have required fencing to be constructed along the entire southwest border, others would have identified particular stretches of land which would receive fencing, and still others would have called for studies to determine whether fencing is a cost-effective way of securing the border.
Congressional Research Service Report
P.L. 109-367, the Secure Fence Act is what pissant is referring to. It provides no funding mechanism, it is only an authorization. Hunter says there is $800M available, but given the info above, there is clearly not, so he is wrong. I am not aware of any other funding for the fence other than in the 2008 DoD Appropriations bill (which hasn't passed) and no one has provided me with cites to their claims that the fence is funded other than quoting Hunter, who is wrong.