    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [October 4, 2006]
    [Pages 1772-1774]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Signing the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations
    Act, 2007, in Scottsdale
    October 4, 2006

        Thank you all for coming. Pretty soon, I'm going to sign an
    important piece of legislation that will highlight our Government's
    highest responsibility, and that's to protect the American people. The
    Department of Homeland Security plays a critical role in fulfilling this
    responsibility every day. Since its creation in 2003, the Department has
    strengthened security of our borders, airports, seaports, and other key
    infrastructure. It's helped give our partners in local and State law
    enforcement the tools they need to do their jobs.
        The legislation I sign today provides about $33.8 billion in funding
    to help secure the homeland. This is a good bill. It will help us deploy
    nuclear detection equipment at our ports of entry, raise security
    standards at the Nation's chemical plants, safeguard American cities
    against weapons of mass destruction, and stop terrorists seeking to
    enter our country.
        The bill will also help our Government better respond to emergencies
    and natural disasters by strengthening the capabilities of the Federal
    Emergency Management Agency. This legislation will give us better tools
    to enforce our immigration laws and to secure our southern border.
        This bill is going to make this country safer for all our citizens.
    And I appreciate the Members of the Congress who have joined me to
    witness this signing, Senator Jon Kyl, J.D.
    Hayworth, Trent Franks, and Rick Renzi. These Members
    supported this good bill, and I thank them for their support. I'm also
    pleased that Governor Janet Napolitano
    has joined us. Governor, thank you for being here. We're honored to have
    you up here with us.
        The bill I sign helps us address one of the central issues facing
    all States but particularly a State like Arizona, and that's illegal
    immigration. I understand full well that illegal immigration puts
    pressure on the public schools and hospitals. It strains State and local
    budgets. In some communities, it increases crime. The administration and
    Congress have been taking decisive steps to address this issue.
        Since I took office, we've increased funding for our border security
    from $4.6 billion in 2001 to $9.5 billion in 2006. We have increased the
    number of Border Patrol

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    agents from about 9,000 to 12,000. We significantly decreased the time
    it takes to return illegal immigrants to their home countries. We've
    apprehended and sent home more than 6 million people entering this
    country illegally. We've stepped up worksite enforcement against
    companies who knowingly hire illegal workers. We're sending a clear
    signal that we're a nation of law, and laws will be enforced.
        We've made progress in addressing illegal immigration, but there is
    a lot more work to be done. This May, I asked Congress to fund
    improvements in infrastructure, technology, and manpower at the border,
    and I appreciate Congress delivering upon my requests.
        The bill I sign today includes nearly $1.2 billion in additional
    funding for strengthening the border, for new infrastructure and
    technology that will help us do our job. It provides funding for more
    border fencing, vehicle barriers, and lighting, for cutting-edge
    technology, including ground-base radar, infrared cameras, and advance
    sensors that will help prevent illegal crossings along our southern
    border. That's what the people of this country want. They want to know
    that we're modernizing the border so we can better secure the border.
        The bill also supports our efforts to increase the number of Border
    Patrol agents to about 18,000 by the end of 2008. I recognized, Congress
    recognized that we needed more Border Patrol agents to do the job. So we
    were in Artesia, New Mexico, earlier and went to the Border Patrol
    Training Center; they were thanked firsthand, the men and women who are
    willing to go out and do hard work and help secure a really long border.
    And I appreciate the service of the Border Patrol.
        It provides funding for about 1,500 additional Border Patrol agents.
    In other words, this is part of a doubling of the Border Patrol that I
    called for earlier in my administration. I fully understand it's going
    to take time to recruit and train these Border Patrol, and that's why,
    in coordination with the Governors, we deployed 6,000 National Guard
    members to the southern border, and they're doing a fine job.
        I remember the outcry when I thought it was a good--told the
    American people I thought it was a good idea to send them down there.
    But, thankfully, we did. And they're helping the Border Patrol. And when
    the Border Patrol agencies--number of agents double, then we're not
    going to need the National Guard. But in the meantime, America owes them
    a debt of gratitude and thanks.
        The bill I sign today also includes a 25-percent increase for
    funding for immigration and customs enforcement. This funding will help
    Federal agents better enforce our immigration laws inside our country.
    It will allow us to add at least 6,700 new beds in detention centers.
    Part of the problem we face is that illegal immigrant was caught
    sneaking into the country, and, because there was no detention beds, the
    Border Patrol would say, ``Why don't you check back in with us after a
    while. There's no place to hold you, so check back in with the judges.''
    And of course, they didn't check back in. It created a lot of
    frustration with the Border Patrol.
        So we're in the process of ending catch-and-release. This bill will
    help us end catch-and-release. You see, when people know that they'll be
    caught and sent home if they enter the country illegally, they're going
    to be less likely to try to enter illegally in the first place.
        The funds that Congress has appropriated are critical for our
    efforts to secure this border and enforce our laws. Yet we must also
    recognize that enforcement alone is not going to work. We need
    comprehensive reform that provides a legal way for people to work here
    on a temporary basis. It's going to relieve pressure on the border. It
    will enable our Border Patrol agents to do a better job when we reduce
    the number of people trying to sneak into the country. It will free up
    our law enforcement officers to focus on criminals and drug

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    dealers and terrorists and others who mean us harm.
        We'll continue to work with Congress to pass comprehensive
    immigration reform that secures this border, upholds our laws, and
    honors our Nation's proud heritage as a land of immigrants.
        I want to thank the Members of Congress who have joined me for this
    important bill signing. And now it's my honor to sign the Department of
    Homeland Security Appropriations Act for 2007.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:37 a.m. at the Camelback Inn. H.R. 5441,
    approved October 4, was assigned Public Law No. 109-295. The Office of
    the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these
    remarks.