[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 175 (Wednesday, November 16, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H7638-H7639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SEND SURPLUS MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO BORDER

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, in the vast, wide open, rugged, 
desolate

[[Page H7639]]

hinterland, southern border regions between the safer legal ports of 
entry, the cartels smuggle people and drugs into the United States. 
State and local officials do what they can to help the Feds protect 
these areas, but they are simply outmanned and out-equipped.
  Madam Speaker, the Border Patrol needs help from local officials. 
Millions of pieces of equipment will soon return from Iraq. This 
includes UAVs that could be used as eyes in the sky for the border 
defenders. This equipment could fill in the massive gaps in 
surveillance of remote areas of the border.
  I've introduced the SEND Act that would send UAVs, HUMVEES, and night 
surveillance equipment to our border governments. Washington could 
partner with border States to protect America. Sending surplus military 
equipment to the southern border will give Americans a return on their 
investment by enhancing our national security.
  The American people have invested billions of dollars in equipment 
used to secure Iraq. Now it's time to use this same equipment to secure 
the United States.
  And that's just the way it is.

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