Script

Backup

Pagado por el Comité Nacional Demócrata. www.Democrats.org Este comunicado no está autorizado por ningún candidato ni comité de candidato. El DNC es responsable por el contenido de este anuncio.

For more than 26 years I served on the border, fighting to keep our enemies and drug dealers out. And for years in Congress, I’ve called on Republicans who control everything in Washington to take action to secure America’s borders.

Durante más de 26 años, preste servicio en la frontera luchando para mantener a nuestros enemigos y a narcotraficantes afuera. Y durante años en el Congreso, le he exigido a los Republicanos que controlan todo en Washington que tomen acción para asegurar las fronteras de los Estados Unidos.

Congressman Reyes drafted, introduced and led debate on the Democratic motion to recommit to HR 4437, Rep. Sensenbrenner's enforcement-only border security bill, in an effort to create a serious, comprehensive border security and immigration bill.

Congressman Reyes introduced the "Secure Borders Act," which will enhance security and promote economic prosperity on the border by creating a $1 billion infrastructure investment fund, increasing the number of law enforcement personnel along the southern border, deploying technology to monitor the entire border 24/7, screening all cargo trucks crossing the southern border for WMD, expanding detention and removal operations, and requiring Spanish and other specialized training for inspectors

Congressman Reyes consistently works to improve border security funding in the yearly appropriations bill in the House of Representatives. He introduced the following two amendments to the Department of Homeland Security funding bill:

• to provide an additional $2.05 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to fund the detention bedspace, personnel and removal costs required to end the "catch and release" policy.
  
  
• to provide an additional $1.95 billion to Customs and Border Protection, which designates $1.7 billion for hiring 10,000 additional border patrol agents and $250 million for expanding the Border Patrol Training Academy to accommodate the training of the additional agents.
  
  

Congressman Reyes secured an additional $10 million in the Science, State, Justice and Commerce funding bill for the Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative, which assists state and local governments in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas with the costs associated with prosecuting drug and related criminal cases that local U.S. Attorneys' offices have declined.

Congressman Reyes held his tenth annual U.S.-Mexico Border Conference in Washington, DC this year to educate policy makers about the needs of the border region. Reyes also holds an annual Border Security Conference in his district of El Paso, Texas, that focuses on efforts to improve security while safeguarding cross-border trade. [Office of Congressman Reyes]

Pero en seis años los Republicanos no han hecho nada. Peor aún, han bloqueado esfuerzos de los Demócratas para aumentar la seguridad fronteriza.

Republicans Have Continually Voted Against Border Security

Republicans Voted Against Fulfilling 9/11 Commission Recommendations on Border Security and Immigration. In 2005, House Republicans voted against an alternative proposal to improve border security and immigration enforcement by fulfilling the 9/11 Commission’s border security recommendations. On December 5, 2005 the 9/11 Commission issued its final report card that highlighted the many failures of the Republican Congress and Administration in implementing the commission’s recommendations. As Chairman Thomas Kean and Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton said in a joint statement on December 5, “There is so much more to be done...Many obvious steps that the American people assume have been completed have not been...Some of these failures are shocking...We are frustrated by the lack of urgency about fixing these problems.” The alternative proposal would have hired more border agents, ended the “catch and release” practice by authorizing 100,000 additional detention beds and incorporated state-of-the art surveillance technology, including cameras, sensors, radar, satellites, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in order to ensure 100% border coverage. [HR 4437 , Vote #660, 12/16/2005; Failed 198-221; R 0-219; D 197-2; I 1-0; Reps. Conyers, Thompson and Reyes Dear Colleague, “Fulfilling the 9/11 Commission’s Recommendations,” 12/16/05]

Republicans Opposed Comprehensive Approach to Homeland Security. In 2005, House Republicans voted against an alternative Homeland Security Authorization proposal that would commit $41 billion to securing the nation from terrorist threats - $6.9 billion more than the President’s budget. The proposal contained $28.4 billion for border and transportation security, immigration processing, and other security functions -- $4 billion more than the President’s budget. It required chemical facilities to conduct vulnerability assessments, and to make security enhancements based on the assessment and mandated that 100% of cargo carried on passenger planes be physically inspected for explosives or other dangerous materials within three years. Furthermore, the proposal addressed the holes in securing the nation’s ports by requiring DHS to develop container security standards, integrate container security pilot projects, and examine ways to integrate container inspection equipment and data. Currently DHS, has three very similar container security pilot projects that are not coordinated in any fashion, resulting in wasted money and redundant efforts. Finally, the plan required DHS to conduct a study of the risk factors associated with the port of Miami and ports in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, including the U.S. Virgin Islands. The alternative plan failed, 196-230. [HR 1817, Vote #187, 5/18/2005; Failed 196-230; R 1-227; D 194-3; I 1-0; Committee on Homeland Security Minority Office, http://www.house.gov/hsc/democrats/]

Republican Congress Provided Only Half of Mandated Border Agents, Kill Democratic Attempts to Meet Full Mandate. The 9/11 Act of 2004 called for 2,000 new Border Patrol Agents in 2006 but the President’s budget for 2006 provided funding for only 210 new agents - 1,790 agents short. Throughout 2005, Democrats fought for the funding for the promised 2,000 new agents. On three separate occasions in 2005, House Republicans voted against Democratic efforts to provide full funding for the 2,000 new Border Patrol Agents that Congress had earlier promised. The Republican Congress ended up funding 1,000 new agents for 2006 - 1,000 below the level promised in the 9/11 Act. [H.R. 1268, Vote #160, 5/5/05; H.R. 2360, Vote #174, 5/17/05; H.R. 1817, Vote #188, 5/18/05]

Republicans Have Killed 5 Separate Attempts to Increase Border Security Funding By Over $2 Billion. On five separate occasions, Democrats have made attempts to increase border security funds, in sum by over $2 billion, only to see their attempts killed by Republicans [Obey Press Release 5/15/06]:

• $223 million: 2002 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill [RC 454, H Res 296, 11/28/01]

• $300 million: 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, HR 2555 [RC 301, H Res 293, 6/24/03]

• $750 million: 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, HR 4567 [RC 243, H Res 675, 6/16/04]

• $400 million: 2006 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, HR 2360 [RC 175, H Res 278, 5/17/05]

• $400 million: 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill, HR 4939 [RC 56, HR 3, 3/9/05]

Republicans Voted for Massive Cuts to Homeland Security Programs. In 2005, House Republicans voted against an effort to strip a 1% across-the-board cut to all “discretionary” programs that had been attached to the FY 2006 defense spending bill. The cuts - totaling $8.5 billion - did not effect veterans’ benefits or combat related accounts. However, the provision did include a $48 million cut to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. Of this amount, nearly $19 million would be cut from security operations between the ports of entry on our borders - i.e., the Border Patrol. In order to absorb this cut, CBP would be unable to hire, train, equip, and deploy approximately 100 new Border Patrol agents. Preparedness, Mitigation, Recovery and Response programs within FEMA will be reduced by $2 million dollars. Cutting these programs will reduce funding for programs like catastrophic planning, including planning for mass evacuations. [HR 2863, Vote #668, 12/19/2005; Failed 183-231; R 1-218; D 181-13; I 1-0; Senate Committee on Appropriations Minority Staff, 12/19/05]

Republicans Voted Against 650 Border Patrol Agents Last Year. In 2005, 34 Senate Republicans voted against increasing funding for immigration and customs enforcement by $389.6 million, enough to hire additional border patrol agents and to operate unmanned aerial vehicles along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to Republican Sen. Larry Craig, the proposal included enough funding for 650 border patrol agents and 168 Immigrations and Customs Enforcements agents and enforcement officers, along with 250 immigration investigators. [HR 1268, Vote 105, 4/20/05; AP, 4/21/05; Craig Press Release, 4/20/05]

Republicans Voted Against $236 Million for Border and Port Security. In 2004, Senate Republicans killed a motion to increase homeland security funding by $2 billion, including $236 million for port and border security. [HR 4567, Vote 169, 9/9/04; CQ, 9/9/04]

Republicans Voted Against $238.5 Million for Border and Port Security. In 2003, Senate Republicans killed a motion to increase homeland security funding by $1.75 billion, including $238.5 million for port and border security. [HR 2555, Vote 291, 7/22/03; New York Times, 7/23/03]

Republicans Voted Against $750 Million for Border Security. In 2003, Senate Republicans killed an amendment to increase homeland security funding by $3 billion, including $750 million for border security. [H J Res 2, Vote 3, 1/16/03; CQ, 1/16/03]

Bush Administration Proposes Cutting COPS Program by 79 Percent in 2007. The Bush Administration has proposed to cut the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), which promotes community policing primarily by putting police on the streets - cut 79 percent in 2007. [The President's 2007 Budget, 2/06; FFIS, 2/06]

Republican Administration Has Received Failing Grades For Border Security

DHS Report Card: Bush Administration Gets A “C-” On Border Security. The Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security’s annual report card on the Department of Homeland Security gave the department a “C-” on its policies on border security. According to the committee, “Department urgently needs a comprehensive border security strategy for identifying and securing the nation’s most porous and vulnerable land borders and ports of entry. At the same time, the Department must develop a comprehensive vision for border screening that harmonizes and integrates the many initiatives underway.” [Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, Annual Report Card, 2/06]

Department Has Failed To Provide Radiation Screening And “State-Of-The-Art” Technology At Our Borders. “The Department promised that it would deploy effective technology to secure and enhance border security, including providing border security personnel with more radiation detection equipment to detect attempts by terrorists to transport Weapons of Mass Destruction across U.S. land borders and ports of entry. To date, however, the Department has not kept its promise to equip its border inspectors and agents with ‘state of-the art’ technology that would enable its personnel to effectively secure U.S. borders.” [Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, Annual Report Card, 2/06]

DHS Has Wasted Millions On Failed Border Security Programs. “Since the inception of the Department of Homeland Security, millions of tax dollars have been wasted as a result of failed border security-related technology initiatives undertaken by the Department. The Department already has two failed border security technology programs behind it, the discontinued Integrated Surveillance Intelligence System (ISIS) and the America’s Shield Initiative.” [Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, Annual Report Card, 2/06]

Under Bush Administration, Apprehensions of Illegal Immigrants Have Dropped, Deportable Aliens Have Declined, and Audits of Employers Have Dropped. Despite doubling the number of border agents over 10 years and massive illegal crossings, apprehensions of illegal immigrants have dropped under Bush by 30%. The number of deportable aliens located in states other than TX, NM, AZ and CA declined by 36% under Bush, reaching an all-time low of 21,113 in FY 2004. Under the Bush DHS enforcement rate, it would take 228 years to apprehend all of the illegal immigrants currently residing in the non-border states. Audits of employers suspected of using illegal immigrants have dropped from 8,000 under Clinton to less than 2,200 in FY 2003, and only 46 employers were convicted of illegal immigrant employment in FY 2004. [Third Way, 5/14/06]

Congressional Research Service: Border Security Less Effective Under Bush. “The U.S. Border Patrol increased at a faster rate and apprehended more illegal aliens per year under President Clinton than under President Bush, according to statistics from a new, unpublished congressional research briefing report. Mr. Bush trails his predecessor on a series of measures of border security, says the briefing from the Congressional Research Service to the House Judiciary Committee, which was based on Department of Homeland Security data. Mr. Clinton increased the number of Border Patrol agents and pilots by 126 percent over his eight-year term, or an average of 642 per year, while Mr. Bush has averaged 411 new agents per year through 2005, for a total increase of 22.3 percent over his tenure. Although Mr. Bush last week said his administration has caught and returned 6 million illegal aliens, that’s actually a drop from any five-year period during Mr. Clinton’s administration, the briefing says.” [Washington Times, 5/25/06]

Bush Administration Underfunded Border Security Called For By 9/11 Act. The Bush Administration “continues to fall short of fully-funding the level of Border Patrol Agents, detention bed space, and Immigration and Customs Agent resources called for by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (9/11 Act). . . Funding in the President’s fiscal year 2007 budget is 25 percent short of what is needed to hire the 2,000 Border Patrol Agents required by the 9/11 Act.” [Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, Annual Report Card, 2/06]

Ahora, en vez de actuar para asegurar nuestras fronteras y aprobar la reforma de inmigración; los Republicanos están realizando audiencias solo para seguir usando a los inmigrantes como chivos expiatorios. Asi piensan que ganarán las elecciones en noviembre.

We can’t trust Republicans with our security or with immigration reform. Democrats want to act now.

No podemos confiarle nuestra seguridad ni la reforma migratoria a los Republicanos. Los Demócratas queremos actuar ahora.

This is Congressman Silvestre Reyes. Join Democrats in calling on Republicans to stop playing games with immigration; and start securing our borders.

Les habla el Congresista Silvestre Reyes. Únase con los Demócratas para exigir a los Republicanos que dejen de jugar con la inmigración; y comienzen a asegurar nuestras fronteras.

Houston Chronicle: Republican Hearings Are a “Roadshow” Designed to Kill Time Until the Election. “Just when [House Republicans] should be drawing a deep breath and holding a conference with the Senate to reconcile their deeply different views of immigration policy, the Republican House thinks it's time for a road trip. For the August recess, they're planning public hearings in border states. These immigration hearings won't approximate their counterparts in Washington, where committees try for some diversity among the witnesses. The hearings won't even be about House legislation. Instead, they will address the Senate immigration bill. This roadshow is a Republican party, with their witnesses and politics already at the table. Held six months after the House created its punitive, enforcement-only bill, the traveling circus can't be called a fact-finding tour. Its purpose is to inflame fearful voters against any comprehensive immigration policy. And it might kill just enough time so that a useful conference on the House and Senate bills would be impossible before the November midterm elections.” [Houston Chronicle editorial, 7/3/06]