WASHINGTON
- In a letter today to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., urged swift action in the Senate on the Emergency Border Security Supplemental Act of 2010. The legislation, which passed the House on Wednesday, is cosponsored by New Mexico Congressman Harry Teague and supported by Congressmen Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján.
The legislation contains more than $701 million to help protect Americans by improving security along the Southwest Border.
"Americans continue to be vulnerable due to the high amount of drug and criminal activities that exist along the Southwest border," Udall said. "Senator Reid faces a difficult decision in finding floor time for all the critical legislation the Senate needs to act on, but this funding is badly needed to provide the required resources for border security to ensure their safety and the safety of our communities."
The Emergency Border Security Supplemental Act of 2010 includes the following:
• $208.4 million for 1,200 additional Border Patrol agents deployed between the ports of entry along the Southwest Border;
• $136 million to maintain current Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer staffing levels and add 500 additional officers at ports of entry along the Southwest Border;
• $33.5 million for improved tactical communications on the Southwest Border, three permanent Border Patrol forward operating bases, and a surge of workforce integrity investigations designed to prevent corruption among CBP officers and agents;
• $50 million for Operation Stonegarden grants to support local law enforcement activities on the border;
• $32 million to procure two additional CBP unmanned aircraft systems;
• $30 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities directed at reducing the threat of narcotics smuggling and associated violence;
• $201 million for Justice Department programs.
Below is the full text of Udall's letter:
July 30, 2010
The Honorable Senator Harry Reid
522 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510Dear Senator Reid,
As you well know, securing the Southwest border is a national concern as we face an increase of border violence. I have called for additional resources to enhance border security and applaud President Obama's efforts to increase funding and National Guard troops along the border. To aid this effort, the House recently passed key legislation. H.R. 5875, the Emergency Border Security Supplemental Act of 2010, would provide $701 million in emergency funding to secure the Southwest Border.
The legislation includes critical funding for the following:
• $208.4 million for 1,200 additional Border Patrol agents deployed between the ports of entry along the Southwest Border;
• $136 million to maintain current Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer staffing levels and add 500 additional officers at ports of entry along the Southwest Border;
• $35.5 million for improved tactical communications on the Southwest Border, three permanent Border Patrol forward operating bases, and a surge of workforce integrity investigations designed to prevent corruption among CBP officers and agents;
• $50 million for Operation Stonegarden grants to support local law enforcement activities on the border;
• $32 million to procure two additional CBP unmanned aircraft systems;
• $30 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities directed at reducing the threat of narcotics smuggling and associated violence; and
• $201 million for Justice Department programs, as requested.
I fully appreciate the difficult task you face in determining what legislation comes to the floor between now and the end of next week when we all return home to work for our respective states, but I respectfully request you consider bringing this measure to the floor. Right now, drug and criminal activities related to immigration are affecting communities and are posing an increased threat to border patrol agents and border communities. Providing the highest protection for the border patrol agents who defend the U.S. from terrorists and drug cartels is one of my main priorities. We must provide the required resources for border security to ensure the safety of our communities.
Thank you for your attention to my request. I look forward to working with you on this and the many other important issues facing our nation.Sincerely,
Tom Udall
