Last night, the House Republican Conference adopted a resolution expressing opposition to the Senate immigration bill. I have serious concerns with this bill. House Republicans have been very clear about our priorities: We must secure our border and enforce our laws. Democrats on the other hand, have consistently voted to undermine our border security efforts, including just recently voting to cut funding for the border fence and putting up new roadblocks for its construction. Republicans want to fund solutions to these difficult issues, but it has to start with strong border security. It’s incumbent on Speaker Pelosi to reach out and work with us to begin to solve these problems.
Listed below you will find some of the legislative efforts I have supported to provide funding and manpower to secure our borders and enforce our laws.
FY2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Conference Report funds critical measures designed to strengthen the country’s border security and stem the flow of illegal immigrants coming across the borders.
$2.77 billion for border patrol, adding 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, for a total of 14,800;
$1.2 billion for border fencing, vehicle barriers, technology and infrastructure;
$4.2 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE);
$3.1 billion for Coast Guard homeland security missions;
$1.38 billion for ICE custody operations, adding 6,700 detention bids, for a total of 27,500;
$135 million to support immigration verification systems.
Secure Fence Act
Authorizes more than 700 miles of two-layered reinforced fencing and places a priority on critical, highly populated areas along the SW border;
Will help the Department of Homeland Security gain operational control over the entire border through a “virtual fence” using cameras, ground sensors, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and integrated surveillance technology.
Community Protection Act
Allows DHS to detain and deport illegal immigrants who are members of a gang and bar them from receiving asylum or temporary protected status.
Immigration Law Enforcement Act
Ends “catch and release” and institutes “catch and return;”
Provides law enforcement with additional tools for prosecuting smuggling offenses;
Enhances the ability of state and local authorities to voluntarily investigate, identify, apprehend, arrest, detain and transfer to federal custody illegal immigrants
Border Tunnel Prevention Act
Individuals who knowingly construct, finance or allow the construction of an unauthorized tunnel across a U.S. international border can be sentence up for up to 20 years;
Individuals caught using such a tunnel to smuggle illegal immigrants, contraband, drugs, weapons or terrorists can face even greater penalties.
Mark's Remarks
This is nice, but what I would really like, Leader Boehner, is for you to tell Bob Bennett to remove George Voinovich from his left buttcheek and also to stop tongue kissing him long enough to denounce him as Mr. Bennett should have done to Bob Taft. You see, Leader Boehner, with your powerful position in the national spotlight, a public statement or even a private call might get Bob Bennett to quit enjoying that sweet feeling of Voinovich on his butt long enough to realize most of us out here in the trenches are getting killed because Georgie Boy is a liar and a disgrace, and our state party lacks the drive and is too full of cowardice to take on an incumbent, even if he is one who is goin to go down in flames come re-election time, no matter how much other mini synchophantic lame building material bloggers out there try to sing the mantra of kumbaya and get along. People like Voinovich destroy state parties, esp. with stupid votes and stands on big issues like this. If Bennett and Co. are too chicken**** to stand up, maybe you should.
Mark's Sarcastic Chastisement Remarks
Now Matt, the Get Along Gang will not be nice to you if you continue to use such hurtful phrases like shamnesty and RINOvich.....let's all play nice, huh, while our state and country go to hell, because like, you know, I want to be invited to all of Massuh Bennett's cool parties....wait, what the hell am I saying? I must be channelling some transplanted Illinoisan building materials blogger......
