Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008

COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - April 24, 2008)

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Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment offered by Representative Zoe Lofgren. As you know, in order to obtain a TWIC, a port worker must be fingerprinted. The problem is that it's not always possible to get an image of the person's fingerprint, as has been mentioned a few minutes ago. From excessive sweating to dry skin, all of that can impede the capture of a useable fingerprint. Dry skin is a common occurrence, age, genetics, disease can also cause dry skin. We need to address this.

As you know, the TSA is supposed to issue credentials to at least 850,000 workers by the end of September. Because of these limitations, we need to have a plan, TSA needs to have a plan, and this is why this amendment is important. A person's skin should not prevent them from getting credentialed for a job that they need. I urge support of this amendment.

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Mr. CUELLAR. Thank you, Madam Chair. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First, I want to thank Chairman Oberstar and also Chairman Cummings and the ranking member from Ohio for the work that they have done on this particular bill, and also, Chairman Thompson, from the Committe on Homeland Security, for the work that they did on this bill together.

I also understand, Madam Chair, that this amendment is acceptable both to the majority and the minority, and it's also bipartisan. I believe Congressman McCaul will be speaking on this amendment in a few minutes.

Madam Chair, today the U.S. House of Representatives has an opportunity to improve the important and critical mission of the United States Coast Guard. One of the Coast Guard's most important functions is providing safety and security in international waters. I was born in Laredo, Texas. Laredo is located on the international border between the United States and Mexico. Our border is divided by the international waters called the Rio Grande River.

There have been many efforts to improve security along the U.S.-Mexico border. Some of those partnerships between the local and Federal Government law enforcement agencies have proven to be beneficial. The border security responsibilities shared by law enforcement departments are complicated for the first responders from the local communities that are located on the international waters of the Rio Grande. The safety of the international boundary is a national security concern, as the level of violence in Mexico increases and spills across the border. Drugs, cash, and people continue to cross the border into the United States, despite our efforts.

I am consistently asked and contacted by local officials in my district who are asking for more support in their border security effort, specifically for help in patrolling the international waters of the Rio Grande. Unfortunately, the local law enforcement agencies and the border patrol have limited resources for patrolling the international water boundary. As the Rio Grande represents over 1,200 miles of international border, I believe that it is time to address the critical need to provide security on the Rio Grande River and not just along the shores of the Rio Grande River.

My amendment would charge the U.S. Coast Guard to analyze what the current mission is along the international waters, including personnel and assets assessment. My amendment also asks the U.S. Coast Guard to identify what resources will be needed to increase the Coast Guard presence along the international boundary.

Madam Chair, there has been many discussions as to how to best secure the United States border along with Mexico. My amendment would simply allow us to consider the possibility of increasing the Coast Guard's presence in the area of unquestionable, the international waters of the Rio Grande River.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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