House Approves Critical Border Security Funds

October 7, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, voted last night to approve the final version of a spending bill that contains critical border security funds. The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act Conference Report for fiscal year 2006, H.R. 2360, was approved with overwhelming bipartisan support, 347-70.

"Border security is national security and it is rightly a primary focus of this bill," Dreier said. "By giving the border patrol additional resources and manpower, we are empowering them to put their focus where it needs to be - on protecting us from potential terrorist threats. This final agreement represents a strong commitment to enhancing our border security efforts and to building on the REAL ID Act approved earlier this year."

The conference report approved last night represents a final agreement between the House and Senate and will now be sent to the President for his signature. It contains $19.1 billion for border protection, immigration enforcement, and related activities, an increase of $1.4 billion over fiscal year 2005. Funding for an additional 1,000 border patrol agents is provided. When combined with funding approved in a supplemental appropriations bill earlier this year, 1,500 new agents will be added in fiscal year 2006. It also includes $40 million to implement the REAL ID Act, which authorized completion of the San Diego border fence, closed loopholes in our nation’s asylum laws, and required proof of legal presence in the U.S. to obtain driver’s licenses to be used for federal purposes. Additionally, $3.3 billion is provided for first responder training and equipment, building on the $32.1 billion provided to first responders since September 11, 2001.

H.R. 2360 also requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit a comprehensive immigration enforcement strategy that reduces the number of undocumented aliens by ten percent per year and a requirement that DHS and the Immigration and Customs Service (ICE) develop a national detention plan for undocumented aliens.