On the recordJune 1, 2011
Yes, I am. We have not seen the amendment. The CHAIR. Objection is heard. The Clerk will continue to read the amendment. The Clerk continued to read. The CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes in support of his amendment. Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Chairman, my amendment will increase spending by $50 million for Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine operations. It will include funding for at least 2 UAV systems, as well as much needed helicopters and marine vessels to assist CBP operations along the border. This amendment will provide the resources to increase the number of flight crews, training, and ground operations needed to support the mounting requests for aerial surveillance missions and boat crews to patrol the rivers and lakes along our border. CBP air marine support supplements our agents on the ground, allowing CBP to deploy fewer agents in a specific area. CBP air marine currently operates 7 UAVs and intends to grow the fleet to a total of 18 to 24 by 2016. I have seen the benefits of these missions personally, along with my good friend and colleague from the Homeland Security Committee, Mr. Cuellar, to whom I yield at this time.
