Political Quotes

“Yes. Mr. McCAIN. I thank my colleague. I think this is significant legislation. I ask the Senator if he would amend his request to include the adoption of three amendments. Those amendments are Nos. 4590, 4591, and 4592. They are: $200 million for Operation Streamline, which is a program that charges those individuals who have crossed the border illegally with a petty crime or misdemeanor with jail time. This has proved to be a great deterrent for repeat crossers; $68 million additional for the Customs inspectors and the other third would be $20 million for the Law Enforcement Support Center which helps the Federal Government, States, and localities identify those individuals who are here illegally and also determines their status regarding eligibility. If I may mention to my colleague, I am not complaining about these provisions. I would like to point out that Operation Streamline on the border has been a very effective tool as disincentives to repeat crossers. I hope that either in this legislation the Senator from New York would consider it and, of course, we need more Customs inspectors. The Law Enforcement Support Center is to identify individuals because right now they are overtaxed, as we know, with the number of illegals, how to identify them and to determine their status. These three amendments I would obviously pay for out of the stimulus package.…”