Bart Stupak: “for 5 years now Washington Republicans have refused to fund border security programs. But it is not only our effort at…”

“for 5 years now Washington Republicans have refused to fund border security programs. But it is not only our effort at our borders, Republicans refuse to go after employers who break the law. Under their leadership, work site enforcement was cut back by 95 percent. As a result, the government prosecuted four employers in 2003 as opposed to 182 in 1999. Securing our borders doesn't happen magically. It takes funding and it takes agents at the border, two things seriously lacking right now. Under pressure to act earlier this year, President Bush vowed to have 2,500 National Guard troops on our border by June 30, but all he could muster was 248. The administration claims the rest of the Guardsmen are now going through training. So much for keeping promises. Now the House Republicans are seriously jeopardizing any real attempts to sign a border security bill into law this year. House Republicans simply refuse to negotiate a final bill, choosing instead to hold hearings on a bill they already passed. The time for talking is over. It is time for House Republicans to join us to secure our borders. ____________________”