Press Release - Congressman Henry Cuellar Announces House Passage Of $34.8 Billion Dollars For Homeland Security

Washington, DC- Congressman Henry Cuellar today announced that the House of Representatives voted to provide the Department of Homeland Security with $34.8 billion in funding. This is $2.3 billion above fiscal year 2006 and $2.7 billion above the President's request. This includes $21.3 billion for border protection, immigration enforcement, and related activities, which is $2.1 billion over fiscal year 2006. The bill includes funding which includes: $2.27 billion for border patrol, adding 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, for a total of 14,800; $4.2 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); $1.38 billion for ICE custody operations, adding 6,700 detention beds, for a total of 27,500; $28.2 million to assist state and local efforts to enforce immigration law; $600 million for Air and Marine Operations for border and airspace security; $183 million for a total of 75 fugitive operations teams nation-wide, an increase of 23; and, $135 million to support immigration verification systems. The also includes provisions criminalizing the creation of tunnels to illegally cross U.S. borders.

This funding aggressively addresses our most critical homeland security needs, including: border and immigration security; nuclear detection; port, cargo and container security; transportation security; natural disaster preparedness and response; and support to state and local first responders.

"I am pleased that the House of Representatives has come together to approve this extremely important spending package. We must continue to address not only securing our borders, but also the need to maintain trade across those same borders," stated Congressman Cuellar. "This bill does exactly that, it provides for the security of our borders whiles also addressing the need to maintain expedited trade routes across those borders."

Congressman Cuellar said, "Stronger and tougher border protection begins with increased funding and enhanced law enforcement resources. I continue to be a strong advocate for border security funding, and I will always put Americans' security first."

Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the House Budget and Agriculture committees in the 109th Congress; accessibility to constituents, education, health care and economic development are his priorities.

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