US Government Passes Border Security Supplement Legislation

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 6080, the Emergency Border Security Supplemental Appropriations Act. This legislation is fully paid-for and provides a total of US$600 million to strengthen border security. The measure passed by voice vote:

"Today the House acted to strengthen our border security and reduce violence along our nation’s Southwest border, providing a total of $600 million in vitally-needed border security funds.

"This bill invests in the personnel and technology we need to better secure our border and protect local communities. It beefs up the number of Border Patrol agents and other key security personnel at the Southwest border. It also improves security by providing funds to deploy unmanned drones to fly along our southern border and provide Border Patrol agents on the ground with real-time information on unlawful border crossings. Moreover, this measure is fully paid for, and it improves communications and collaboration between federal, state, and local officials.

"Strengthening border security is one of the central pillars of bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform, and I hope Democrats and Republicans will use today’s progress as a building block for comprehensive reform.

"I applaud my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for passing this critical legislation and standing with the people of our Southwest states. I look forward to the Senate passing this bill and sending it to the President’s desk soon."