[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 151 (Thursday, November 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1843-E1844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MANDATORY OPERATIONAL CONTROL REPORTING AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES ACT OF 
                                  2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2012

  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to debate H.R. 
6025, the ``Mandatory Operational Control Reporting and Performance 
Measures Act of 2012,'' which provides for annual reports to Congress 
from the Secretary of Homeland Security on the status of operational 
control of the international land and maritime borders of the United 
States, as well as, unlawful entries through those borders.
  As a Ranking Member of Homeland Security Committee Transportation 
Subcommittee, I recognize the essential role that the Committee and 
this Congress play in securing our borders from terrorism, drug 
trafficking, and illegal immigration. This goal involves the 
substantial efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement, as 
well as Congressional creation of effective border policy. I recognize 
that this bill seeks to provide additional information to Congress that 
will be helpful to that process going forward.
  Section 2 of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 requires the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to ``take all actions the Secretary determines 
necessary and appropriate to achieve and maintain operational control 
over the entire international land and maritime border of the United 
States.'' The section defines operational control to mean ``the 
prevention of all unlawful entries into the United States, including 
entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, 
narcotics, and other contraband.''
  As the Representative for the 18th Congressional District in Houston, 
Texas, border security and integrity are of paramount importance to 
both me and my constituents. The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long 
complex of public and private facilities located just a few hours' 
sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico. Its services link Houston with 
1,053 ports in 203 countries.
  The port is ranked first in the United States in foreign waterborne 
commerce, second in total tonnage, and sixth in the world. It generates 
about $11 billion annually and provides over 287,000 direct and 
indirect jobs in Texas. As the port plays such a large role in the US 
economy it is crucial that we maintain its integrity and security.
  H.R. 6025 is designed to gauge the performance of the Department in 
achieving operational control, so that Congress may provide additional 
legislation, tools, and resources as necessary.
  More specifically, this bill will provide for annual reports on (1) 
the number of miles of the international land and maritime border 
between the United States and Canada and the United States and Mexico 
that are under operational DHS control, cumulatively and by sector; and 
(2) the estimated number of individuals who unlawfully enter the United 
States annually, the estimated number of individuals unlawfully present 
in the United States as of the date of each such report, and the number 
of individuals unlawfully present in the United States who voluntarily 
exited the United States in the preceding year.
  Border security and immigration enforcement are enormous tasks 
requiring extensive resources. The Federal Government aims to, and 
must, work with State and local authorities to share the 
responsibilities and the common goal of a safe and secure America.
  Despite the many examples of successful initiative and cooperative 
efforts, there are plenty of legitimate concerns that must be taken 
into account when discussing the best

[[Page E1844]]

way to ensure that America's borders are secure. Significant 
improvements in technology and infrastructure have been made to the 
efforts the Federal Government is making to improve border security and 
immigration enforcement. Reports like the one proposed today are 
important to achieving our long term goals.

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