Dreier Lauds Approval of Border Security, War Funding Bill REAL ID and Dreier-Authored CALI Act Both Included in Final Version

Dreier Lauds Approval of Border Security, War Funding Bill REAL ID and Dreier-Authored CALI Act Both Included in Final Version

May 5, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, voted today to approve legislation to fund ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and secure our borders. H.R. 1268, the 2005 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief Conference Report, was approved by a broad bipartisan vote of 368-58, with 1 member voting present.

"Passage of H.R. 1268 is a victory for our national security and will secure us against terrorists seeking to do us harm," Dreier said. "We kept our promise to include crucial border security provisions in this first must-pass bill of the year. The REAL ID provisions to strengthen driver's license standards for federal use and complete the San Diego border fence will now become law. Just as important, our men and women fighting overseas will be receiving funding and equipment critical to completing their mission. I recently visited Iraq and saw firsthand the tremendous progress made, as well as the challenges that still lie ahead. This funding bill is absolutely necessary to build on that success and continue helping the Iraqi people rebuild their country and establish their democracy."

At a news conference yesterday, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) thanked Dreier for his leadership and commitment to bringing the supplemental to the floor with the REAL ID legislation included. "Congressman Dreier was instrumental in achieving this victory for border security and authored a key provision dealing with judicial review of removal orders." That provision was originally introduced as the Citizens and Legal Immigrants (CALI) Act, H.R. 100, on the opening day of the 109th Congress. The CALI Act will help alleviate this problem by ensuring that criminal aliens do not unfairly game our judicial system and restoring the fundamental purpose of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) that aliens who are harmful to our communities and national security be promptly removed.

Overall, H.R. 1268 includes $82 billion in funding, including $75.9 billion that will go directly to train and equip our troops serving in the war on terrorism. The bill also provides $635 million for border security initiatives, including the hiring of 500 additional Border Patrol agents. Additionally, the bill increases the onetime Death Benefit and Gratuity for combat families from $12,000 to $100,000. It also increases the maximum Servicemember Group Life Insurance benefit from $250,000 to $400,000. Those changes are retroactive to the beginning of the conflict in Afghanistan in 2001.

http://dreier.house.gov/releases/pr050505.htm