[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 17, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          CRISIS ON THE BORDER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY BONILLA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 17, 1996

  Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Speaker, there is a crisis on our border. As the 
representative for over 800 miles of the Mexican border I know all too 
well the extent of the threat to America's law abiding border 
communities.
  This Congress has dramatically increased funding for the Border 
Patrol. I am proud to have led the effort for this increased funding. 
However, far more needs to be done. Agents have been transferred to 
other regions. Courts and prisons are underfunded; and drug runners and 
alien smugglers are making this part of America a base for their 
operations.
  Our pleas for help along the border have not fallen on deaf ears. The 
Appropriations bill before us today offers hope in fighting this 
criminal plague. This Treasury, Postal Appropriation increases funding 
for the Office of National Drug Control Policy by about 25%. This money 
can be used to combat the drug runners threatening Americans in Texas 
border communities, farms and ranchers.
  It is now up the Administration to spend this money on the border, 
the front line of the drug war, not on more Washington bureaucrats. The 
drug czar himself was recently in Eagle Pass, Texas. He saw with his 
own eyes and he heard with his own ears of the dangers our poor border 
communities confront. He now should know first-hand the problems border 
residents face.
  Today we are voting to give him the resources to conduct this fight. 
We are restoring cuts made in previous White House budgets. I hope we 
have gotten the White House's attention now that this is an election 
year. The evidence has been seen and resources provided. Americans 
along the border have the same right to safety and security as other 
Americans.
  My colleagues, this legislation provides the resources to stop the 
drug runners and end the crisis on the border. If you care about the 
safety and security of your fellow Americans along the border vote for 
this Treasury, Postal Appropriations bill.

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