Chuck Schumer: “this amendment seeks to strengthen the borders, which is a good goal, but at an awful price. It could take 24 percent of…”

“this amendment seeks to strengthen the borders, which is a good goal, but at an awful price. It could take 24 percent of our money away from our first responders--police, firefighters, emergency technicians. In every one of the States we had an argument the other day that we don't get enough money for these people, that whether you are from Wyoming or Kansas or Maine or New York, there is not enough money for our first responders. There is nothing that says we have to rob Peter to pay Paul. That is the problem here. It is not in strengthening the borders. It is in taking money away from the people every day who defend us and, since 9/11, have new duties. That is why both Senator Gregg and Senator Byrd, the chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, are against this amendment. There is bipartisan opposition to it because our police, our firefighters, our medical technicians are the ones who need the help. Don't take money away from localities to put into this Federal pot. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to amendment No. 1219. The yeas and nays have been ordered. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk called the roll. Mr. McCONNELL. The following Senator was necessarily absent: the Senator from Mississippi (Mr. Lott).”