Kendrick Meek: “we argued this amendment in committee, and I have some concerns about it because I used to be a State trooper in…”

“we argued this amendment in committee, and I have some concerns about it because I used to be a State trooper in Florida. I know exactly what happens when we feel that we are doing something, but we are really not doing anything. With all due respect to my colleagues on the other side and their hard work, which I join them in the theory of making sure that we reimburse local law enforcement agencies that have invested time in doing what is a Federal agency responsibility, but the 9/11 report called for more ICE officers, it called for more Custom border protection officers, and it called for a Federal agency, like the Department of Homeland Security, to have what it needs to carry out its duties. I must point out to the Members at line 10 on this particular amendment, on the front page, page 7 here of the overall bill, it says that the Secretary of Homeland Security ``may'' reimburse State and political subdivisions for the expenses that are carried out in this subsection. Now, I am going to tell you right now this is the kind of language, and I want to make sure the law enforcement communities understand this, that this is not a guaranteed reimbursement. We are not guaranteeing them that they are going to be reimbursed. So I want to make sure the Members understand that wholeheartedly. I understand the intent of this amendment, but I believe that if we are going to run, let us run. If we are going to walk, let us walk.…”