[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 6061, SECURE FENCE ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2006

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 
6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006. This bill is not about border 
security or terrorism prevention, as the name implies, but is rather a 
gimmick and will not in fact solve our nation's border and immigration 
problems. We need to focus on ``smart security'' and develop a 
comprehensive plan. Only then will we truly secure our borders and 
ensure our safety as Americans. This bill strays far from those 
priorities and is opposed by almost every reasonable business, labor, 
and civil liberties advocacy group in the country.
  The bill before us does not provide any specific dollar amounts to 
build the mandated fence, and nowhere does the bill even authorize 
additional Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or 
Customs officers needed to secure the border. Blindly erecting a fence, 
without taking into consideration the needs of the area and the men and 
women who work on the front lines of our borders is not effective and 
we can do better. We need to focus on ``smart security,'' and we need 
to do it now.
  It is extremely important to know who is entering our country and who 
is already here. We need to focus on strengthening our borders by 
improving our surveillance technology, deploying more border patrol 
agents, and providing them with the materials they need to effectively 
do their jobs. This is why I am proud to support Mr. Thompson's 
substitute amendment.
  The substitute amendment requires the Department of Homeland Security 
to develop a comprehensive border security strategy by deploying at 
least 3,000 additional Border Patrol agents and 2,000 additional 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at our borders each year for 
the next four years. The substitute also provides helicopters, portable 
computers, radio communications and hand-held global positioning 
devices so the agents have all of the resources they need to get the 
job done.
  Mr. Thompson's substitute also ends our ineffective ``Catch and 
Release'' practice. We need to ensure that we have adequate space in 
which to house people until we determine who they are and why they are 
here. It is unacceptable that illegal immigrants have been released 
after being charged with a crime simply because there is not adequate 
space in which to detain them. The substitute authorizes 100,000 
additional detention bed spaces through FY 2010 to assist with the 
detention of undocumented individuals.
  We also need to refocus our efforts on monitoring precisely which 
materials come through our borders. As the lead Democrat on the 
Subcommittee for the Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack, I 
have called for the installation of radiation portal monitors at 
designated ports of entry to screen all inbound cargo for radiological 
or nuclear materials. I am dedicated to ensuring we have this important 
technology at every entry point.
  Although erecting a security fence in specifically targeted areas may 
be necessary, it needs to be part of a much larger comprehensive plan. 
In order to employ a plan that is truly effective, we need to take into 
consideration all of these factors, not just a select few.
  Rhetorical bills proposing a quick fix will not secure our borders, 
and I will not support legislation that does not propose a 
comprehensive solution. I am proud to support Mr. Thompson's substitute 
amendment, and I urge my colleagues to follow suit.

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