OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Press Releases - Winning the Battle to Secure Border

Date: Sept. 14, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Immigration


Winning the Battle to Secure Border
Hensarling Praises House Passage of "Secure Fence Act"

Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) today praised House passage of H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act, sponsored by Peter King, the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security. Hensarling, who co-sponsored the bill, has held over 20 Town Hall meetings throughout the 5th District in Texas since April to discuss the importance of border security and immigration reform.

"By providing more border agents, more enforcement, building more fences and enhancing technology, the Secure Fence Act will make it more difficult for drugs, criminals and potential terrorists to enter America," said Hensarling. "It is clear that the Republican led house understands that protecting America is our number one responsibility."

Hensarling noted that nearly 80 percent of Americans support the border security first approach to immigration reform that the Republican led Congress has undertaken. The Secure Fence Act would strengthen operational control of all borders and ports through additional barriers and fencing, greater use of state-of-the-art technology and increased surveillance along the southwest border, including:

* Authorizing more than 700 miles of two-layered reinforced fencing along the southwest border with prioritized placement at critical, highly populated areas and requiring an evaluation of infrastructure needs along the northern border;

* Mandating that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) achieve and maintain operational control over the entire border through a "virtual fence" that deploys cameras, ground sensors, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and integrated surveillance technology;

* Requiring DHS to provide all necessary authority to border personnel to disable fleeing vehicles, similar to the authority held by the United States Coast Guard for maritime vessels; and

* Requiring DHS to assess vulnerabilities on the northern border.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/tx05_hensarling/091406SecureFence.html

arrow_upward