On the recordMay 14, 2015
Everything that the proponents of this amendment have highlighted, the Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security already have access to and already received from the Department of Defense. As I said earlier, this amendment is redundant because that authority and that ability already exists. What it does do is create further anxiety and fear about the border at a time that is not warranted because of the record levels that we are spending on homeland security and the record levels of security that we have, the record low apprehensions that we see, and the relevant safety of the U.S. side of the U.S.-Mexico border relative to the rest of the country. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
