On the recordFebruary 4, 2015
Thank you very much. Let me begin by complimenting you and applauding your efforts, the gentlewoman from Arizona. Your leadership in this has been invaluable. We appreciate it very much. You have taken a leading role in this. I also want to compliment and applaud the chairman of Homeland Security, Chairman McCaul, for his tenacity in assuring that this gets done. For most of us, when we go home and we talk about illegal immigration or we talk about the terrorists or the threat of terrorism or when we talk about drug smuggling, the one thing that our constituents say is: Secure the border. Secure the border. That is always the first thing they say, regardless of what we are talking about, whether it is illegal immigrants, whether it is terrorism, the threat of terrorism. They always say that first, and it is very important. Now, I will be quite honest with you. I am from south Georgia, and I don't get out a whole lot. In fact, quite honestly, this is the first time I have ever been to the southwest border. I have never been to California before I went on this trip. I have never been to Arizona. Although I have been to Texas, I have never been to the Rio Grande, so it was an eye-opening experience for me. Before I went there, I think that I was like most of my constituents and like many Americans. I would watch what is happening on TV, and I would holler at the TV: Build a fence. Build a fence. Ms. McSALLY. Right.
