Speaker Previews Tomorrow's White House Signing of the 'Secure Fence Act';

PR Newswire ^ | 10/25/2006 | Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert

[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."

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-- 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.

[EnochPowellWasRight]

"No, it is not funded. The 1.2 is only a downpayment that will cover approximately 1/2 of the 700 miles"

Or anything DHS wants more, from what I understand.

[Kimberly GG]

That's because the Administration and supporters of the OBL agenda have no intention of securing it, only the perimeter of the continent.

[MonroeDNA]

I am not voting.

The fence is not funded.