The Southern Borderlands Public Communications Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, foreign invaders are threatening the people who feed America. Recently, I was invited to the Arizona border by Congresswoman Gabby Giffords' office. I met with border ranchers who live in fear each day because they don't know who or what is lurking on their land. They communicate with each other over radios.

In this remote area many times cell phones do not work. So, today I am filing legislation that is the idea of Ms. Giffords. This bill is in memory of Robert Krentz, the Arizona rancher who was murdered by an illegal on his own property one year ago. Mr. Krentz is a former rancher whose family still lives in Arizona. News reports indicate Mr. Krentz was in a cell phone ``dead zone'' when he was murdered, and this bill will provide people in remote areas on the dangerous border area with cell phone service to call for help.

If the Federal Government is going to refuse to protect its citizens, the least it can do is allow the people the resources to protect themselves.

And that's just the way it is.

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