Cord Byrd: “In total, in fiscal year 2008, the bill includes $11,377,816,000 for border security programs within U.S. Customs and…”

“In total, in fiscal year 2008, the bill includes $11,377,816,000 for border security programs within U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This is $1,288,302,000, or 12.7 percent, above fiscal year 2007, and $338,846,000 above the President's request. That is 3 percent over the President's request. With these funds, by the end of fiscal year 2008, there will be a total of 17,819 Border Patrol agents, 31,500 detention beds, and more than 12,700 immigration enforcement and detention personnel. Additionally, the combined funding in fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008 for border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology is more than $2.5 billion. Including the funding provided in this bill, since 2004, on a bipartisan basis under the leadership of Senators Byrd, Craig, and Gregg, Congress will have increased the number of Border Patrol agents by 7,000, the number of immigration enforcement personnel by 2,546, and the number of detention beds by 13,150. The President has threatened to veto this bill because of what he considers to be 'excessive' spending. However, it is not 'excessive' when we provide funds to secure our borders. I support continued bipartisan efforts to provide funding for real border security.”