[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17549]
[From the U.S. 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 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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