Dreier Announces Support for Border Fence Reinstatement Legislation

Press Release

Dreier Announces Support for Border Fence Reinstatement Legislation

Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA), Rules Committee Ranking Republican, today announced his support for H.R. 5124, the Reinstatement of the Secure Fence Act of 2008. This legislation, which has been introduced by California Representative Duncan Hunter, would require the construction of at least 700 miles of double-layered fencing along the Southern border within 6 months of passage of the bill. Dreier is an original co-sponsor of H.R. 5124.

"Ensuring the protection of our southern border is a top priority," said Dreier. "When Congress passed the Secure Fence Act in 2006, we did so knowing that the utilization of double-layered fencing and smart technology like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), cameras and ground sensors would help reduce the number of crossings and would allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to achieve operational control of the U.S.-Mexico border."

Unfortunately, H.R. 2764, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 contained provisions that reduced the amount of fencing to be built along the southwest border and further imposed new and burdensome fence construction requirements on DHS. For those reasons, Dreier did not support H.R. 2764. In order to address these issues, H.R. 5124 would mandate the construction of at least 700 miles of new, double-layered border fencing 6 months after passage of the bill and further would eliminate the requirements placed on the Department of Homeland Security by H.R. 2764.

Continued Dreier, "As we continue to work to secure our borders, it is important that we meet the benchmarks established in the Secure Fence Act. H.R. 5124 will ensure that these objectives are met."

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