Gabby Giffords: “Thank you, Chairman Tanner, for this opportunity. I rise today, along with Congressman Heller, to address the newest…”

“Thank you, Chairman Tanner, for this opportunity. I rise today, along with Congressman Heller, to address the newest threat of drug smuggling into the United States on the southwest border. As drug violence wreaks havoc on our southern neighbor, the country of Mexico, the product of this narcoterrorism continues to fuel violent and ruthless acts and is now floating effortlessly across the U.S.- Mexico border into our communities. We must do everything in our power to neutralize this insidious threat and stem the flow of narcotics and drug money that threatens our communities. The latest tool used by these drug traffickers are these small planes, these small planes that go largely undetected by our law enforcement community. Single-person ultralight aircraft that are flying low, as depicted in this image, make them, of course, very popular among enthusiasts, but are now a new tool that the drug cartels have adopted to corrupt this fine pastime. Every year now, hundreds of ultralights laden with illegal narcotics are flown over our southern borders and are now landing in our backyards. Here is a map of my backyard. Southern Arizona is on the front lines of this border security crisis.”