From time to time my office distributes press releases and written statements on state and national issues, debate in the Senate, and legislation that I am working on. For your convenience, I post these documents on my site for your review.
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Senate Adopts Sessions’ Amendment to Fund National Guard Troops at the Border
The amendment, offered by the U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), was accepted by voice vote.
Approximately 3,000 National Guard members are currently serving in Operation Jump Start, a federal program to enhance the Custom and Border Patrol’s (CBP) ability to enforce security on the southern border. Those troop levels are down from the 6,000 National Guard personnel which were deployed as part of the program last year.
Despite public concern that the border is not yet secure, Operation Jump Start is currently slated to end on July 1, 2008. The underlying DOD spending measure did not include any additional funding for Operation Jump Start.
The intent of Operation Jump Start is to provide necessary National Guard troops on the border until the number of CBP border patrol agents is sufficient to provide adequate security. Guard members are also assisting in construction of border fencing and roads.
“Earlier this year the American people made it clear that they expected Congress to take steps to enforce the law on our border,” Sessions said. “The number of illegal aliens attempting to cross the border has decreased by about 25 percent since National Guard troops were deployed. This program is a proven success and it would be unthinkable to back away so soon from this critical part of our border enforcement strategy. My amendment will make certain that our troops have the funding they need to continue their mission throughout the next year.”
A recent review of the Operation Jump Start program found that National Guard troops have assisted in the apprehension of 84,748 illegal aliens at the border since they were deployed last year. National Guard troops are also responsible for the recovery of 4,783 pounds of cocaine, 703 vehicles, $60,000 in currency, and a 22 percent increase in the amount of marijuana interdicted at the border.
The additional funding will allow National Guard troops to remain on the border through Fiscal Year 2008.
The underlying DOD spending bill was cleared by the Senate tonight.
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