Barbara Boxer: “I start by thanking the chairman and ranking member for their support of this amendment. Basically, we have a wonderful…”

“I start by thanking the chairman and ranking member for their support of this amendment. Basically, we have a wonderful Secret Service unit in our Federal Government. They are very professional and they do a wonderful job in protecting our dignitaries, both foreign and domestic--whether it is a President, Vice President, a Presidential candidate, the Vice President, their families, or the head of a foreign power. It is absolutely a fact that they are the best there is. A lesser known fact is that when those dignitaries visit our States-- Arkansas, California, Missouri--our law enforcement personnel are asked to help the Secret Service and, of course, they do it. But they don't get reimbursed for the cost of doing that. This is beginning to sting our people at home. My amendment will simply let us know the extent of the problem. I have a letter from the California Highway Patrol, and they tell me that last year they spent over $700,000. I hope we will have a unanimous vote on this. I yield the floor.”