Dreier: Democrats Vote Down Fence Funding, Ignore Border Security Needs

June 15, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA), Rules Committee Ranking Republican, criticized House Democrats today for voting down a Republican proposal to fully fund the border fence to be constructed on the Southern border.  The Republican Motion to Recommit on the H.R. 2638, The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008, would have fully funded the fence which was authorized in the previous Congress.  Dreier voted for the motion, which failed, and voted against final passage of the bill because of the fence issue.

“House Democrats today have basically abdicated their responsibility on funding the border fence – which includes physical fencing as well as smart-fencing technology, like cameras, sensors, and unmanned aerial vehicles.  It has been authorized and it needs to be fully funded,” Dreier said.  “The fence constructed in San Diego has demonstrated that strategic border fencing can have a positive effect on limiting illegal border crossings.  Democrats seem unwilling to acknowledge this success. 

 “This bloated bill spends too much money in all the wrong places.  I believe any homeland security funding bill needs to seriously address border security.  Quite simply, this bill does not do that.”