Posted on 10/25/2006 2:06:15 PM PDT by mdittmar
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) today commented on tomorrow's White House signing of the Secure Fence Act passed by the Republican Congress.
"Our borders constitute the first line of defense in protecting the American people from terrorists. Last July I met with border security agents and other federal and local officials during my visit to the border, and I promised them we would address this national security crisis. The Republican Congress has responded to the American people's demand for a secure border by increasing the physical barriers and infrastructure along the border and by providing state of the art monitoring technology. I look forward to the President signing the Secure Fence Act tomorrow.
"What disappoints me most is the rhetoric coming from the other side of the aisle. Democrats say they are for immigration reform - just not the reform that Republicans have offered. Democrat Leader Pelosi's plan is to leave our borders open, grant blanket amnesty and provide Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants. Is THAT their plan? Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi has NEVER visited the border. She claims to understand the needs of those on the front lines but has never visited those agents and offers no solutions.
"While the Democrats talk about doing something, House and Senate Republicans are making strides, and President Bush is supporting their hard work by signing this important legislation this week. I still hold out hope that Democrats will rise above the politics and offer some solutions to the border security crisis in America. In the meantime, House Democrats are hoping Americans don't know their voting record against border security."
---
-- 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.
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.
Did you fight to get this passed?,did you go against President Bush when he wanted amnesty first?
I did,and I'm glad I did.
Now we keep the pressure on,"Yawn" is not an option.
Guess that makes two of us;)
As a matter of fact I did, thanks for asking. It's not the poli's that are going to be the problem to getting the fence built.
There will be countless court battles over all the endangered species that they will happen to find. The enviro whackos will be another problem. Then there's the problem with Mexico and the libs.
The battle has just begun and as bad as I want it I'm not optimistic, but I'm behind you 100%. Lets get 'er built.
[I'll be marking the completion dates on my calendar.]
That's gonna be a might empty calendar. Please understand, there will be no fence built. None.
It's hard to build a fence, any fence, with no money. The funds needed to build a fence from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico were /NEVER/ even discussed, never mind funded. The fence that was "passed" was 700 miles in length for a border that's 1,950 miles long. The very cheapest estimate to build this 700 mile fence was $8 billion. However, only $1.2 billion was appropriated.
Then, the Congress told the President, "By the way, if you don't want to spend this $1.2B on the fence, you don't have to. The only thing you must do is report to Congress a month /after/ the November 2006 election on the feasability of the fence."
Congress can pass any bill they want. However, if they don't appropriate the funds, then they can't pay for it. So, nothing happens. The bill dies.
When this came up over the weekend I used this analogy: Imagine your 18 year old son comes up to you and says, "I want your permission to buy a Ferrari." You go ahead and give your permission. Does that mean a Ferrari is magically going to appear in your garage any time soon? Of course not. Someone has to pay for that Ferrari. Since you're not gonna pay for it and your son works part time at Blockbuster, he's not gonna pay for it, either.
Passing a bill to build a fence or giving your son permission to buy a Ferrari means nothing if there's no money to pay for it.
Congress scammed us, don't you understand? This was a feel good effort to pacify us FReepers and the vast majority of Americans who want the border locked down.
Ah,you don't speak for me.
Oh man, aren't we lucky to have a Gov't that is so considerate? The breaking point is coming.
Yes.
What good would that have done? It is important to do these things when people are paying attention!
Exactly - it's a rather deft use of the "bully pulpit" to hold your fire, and then pull the trigger so that Repubs can at least try to get some bounce out of it all......but I sure wish Hastert had added "and swarms of illegals" to his line about 'first line of defense against terrorists'.
I'm not even going to attempt to do the math, but "8 thousand million" might well cover the salaries of a whole long line of armed border guards to cover that 700 miles.
Hell, they might even be squeezed in elbow to elbow.....8 Bil is a whole lotta bucks!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.