[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H3316]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          DEPLOY THE NATIONAL GUARD TO THE U.S.-MEXICAN BORDER

  (Ms. GIFFORDS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge President Barack 
Obama to improve security on our southern border by immediately 
deploying the National Guard. On March 27, Rob Krentz, whose family has 
been ranching along the U.S.-Mexico border for over 100 years, was 
tragically murdered, murdered on his own land. Three days later, I 
wrote to the President and asked him to send back the National Guard to 
protect our citizens who live and work along the border. I renewed that 
request 2 weeks ago and again last week.
  Deployment of the National Guard is an essential first step in 
reassuring border residents of our commitment to their safety and 
security. The people that I represent do not believe that the Federal 
Government has heard their pleas, and they grow worse and worse every 
single day. Much has been done to improve border security, but our 
border is not yet secure, contrary to whatever people say.
  Drug cartel violence increasingly threatens the lives of our 
citizens; and on behalf of the thousands of Americans who live in the 
troubled sections of the U.S.-Mexico border but particularly in 
southern Arizona, I ask again that the President immediately deploy the 
National Guard. The first responsibility of the government is to ensure 
the safety of its citizens, and we must take action.

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