[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE U.S. BORDER PATROL ON ITS 85TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL T. McCAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 9, 2009

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, as the lead Republican sponsor of this 
resolution I would like to thank the gentleman from New Mexico, 
Congressman Teague, as well as Chairman Reyes for all of their work on 
putting together this legislation.
  The U.S. Border Patrol has been keeping this country safe from 
threats like terrorists, illicit drugs, weapons, illegal immigrants and 
criminals for 85 years. I would like to thank the border patrol and I 
commend them for their service.
  In the early 20th century, control of the border was sporadic and 
piecemeal and included mounted guards, Texas Rangers, and military 
troops. After the prohibition of alcohol and the immigration reforms of 
1921 and 1924, the Labor Appropriations Act of 1924 officially 
established the U.S. Border Patrol with an initial force of 450 
officers to help defend our borders.
  Today the Border Patrol uses state of the art technologies to aid in 
the performance of their duties; infrared cameras, remote video 
surveillance, unattended underground sensors, and ground radar.
  CBP is responsible for guarding nearly 7,000 miles of land border the 
United States shares with Canada and Mexico and 2,000 miles of coastal 
waters surrounding the Florida peninsula and off the coast of Southern 
California. The agency also protects 95,000 miles of maritime border in 
partnership with the United States Coast Guard.
  I would like to praise for their tireless efforts the 52,000 CBP 
employees including the over 18,000 CBP Border Patrol agents, 1,000 CBP 
Air and Marine agents, almost 22,000 CBP officers and agriculture 
specialists and the nation's largest law enforcement canine program.
  I would also like to pay particular tribute to the 104 CBP employees 
who lost their lives in service to their country.
  In sum, CBP performs the vital task of securing America's borders 24 
hours a day, seven days a week while facilitating legitimate trade and 
travel. I congratulate them on their 85th anniversary and I urge my 
colleagues to vote in favor of this Resolution.

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