Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support an amendment that would increase the capabilities of small and medium law enforcement agencies close to the border to fight the Mexican drug cartels that are bringing deadly poisons into our country at unprecedented levels. This amendment would prioritize law enforcement organizations within 100 miles of the border that have annual budgets under $200,000 to receive excess defense articles to surveil and interdict drug and drug traffickers. Here is the problem that we are trying to solve: Cartels have more capabilities, more resources, more weapons, more money than any small border county can possibly deal with. Our law enforcement needs better weapons and better surveillance tools in order to stand a fighting chance. It is worth noting some of the concerns: that this would create competition for organizations that need things like high-water rescue vehicles. I am from Houston; I know all too well the importance of those assets. It is also important to note that this does not create that kind of competition because what is needed for disaster response and recovery is far different than what is needed for counternarcotics and counter drug cartel surveillance and interdiction. During my work as chairman of the Task Force to Combat Mexican Drug Cartels, I have heard firsthand of the need for equipment by these organizations that my amendment would prioritize.…”