Rep. Miller: Time to Act on Border Security is Now

Statement

"For decades, we have failed to adequately secure our borders as threats against our Homeland have grown in number and sophistication. We are confronted with the tragic consequences of human and drug smuggling across our borders, and, last year, we witnessed a humanitarian crisis as an unprecedented number of unaccompanied children crossed our southern border.

"The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution says that the foremost responsibility of the federal government is to provide for the common defense of this nation and its citizens -- that includes securing our borders, which we have failed to do.

"At the beginning of the Congress, I pledged to make border security a top priority. Last night, the Committee on Homeland Security passed the Secure Our Borders First Act, legislation that will finally allow us to gain control of our nation's borders and establish metrics we can use to demonstrate operational success or failure. The legislation applies a layered approach to border security that includes strategic fencing, new technologies and the use of the National Guard as a force multiplier. Additionally, the legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a northern border threat analysis and requires the deployment of resources to the northern border.

"This bill, which is a result of years of research and refinement, will go a long way in securing our borders and protecting our Homeland, and I am hopeful that my colleagues in the House and Senate, as well as the President, will support this overdue legislation. The fact is, we can't afford inaction when it comes to securing our borders. The time to act is now."

Source