Henry Cuellar

I thought we were going to use $640 million for border infrastructure.

I have to tell you that just last week we found out that it apparently got swept up to help reduce the deficit.

We've got to be one step ahead of the bad guys at all time.

I would ask you that whenever y'all see any good ideas, your men and women, send them up there.

I would ask you to just try to pass that up as soon as possible.

We want to make sure... that we're innovative in how we do our work on the border.

If there's equipment that can be useful to us, we certainly want to work with you.

If it's good enough for the military, I can't see why we have to go spend all of those dollars and research and develop new things when the wheel has been invented already.

Our trade with Mexico also sustains 6 million jobs in the United States.

Mexico is the United States' third-largest trading partner, second-largest export market with an average of about $1 billion in two-way trade between the countries every single day.

Those of us who call Laredo home understand the importance of this cross-border travel and commerce not just to our community or border region but really to the entire country.

We certainly want to thank Mr. Garza and all of his men and women that work very hard to make sure that we facilitate the trucks that are coming in.

I certainly want to thank the Chairwoman, actually, Ms. Miller, Candice Miller, the Subcommittee Chairwoman;

You know, we Members of Congress voted millions of dollars in cuts that we, as Members of Congress, cut.

If you all can talk to each other about strategies and whatever we need, I think this would short-circuit a lot of what we are doing.

What happens after this particular December 31, 2010? What do we have to do so we can get that funding?

All I am saying is, if you all can just sit and talk to each other about the overall strategy, tell us what you need, give us a list.

I appreciate the work that you do. But let me just give you an example and we can short-circuit this again.

Have you had input in the overall strategy? You are not answering the question.

My question: Have you been asked to provide input in that overall strategy?

Since 2006, the Department of Defense has spent approximately $1.4 billion in National Guard support under the Department of Homeland Security in border security.

I want to begin by thanking Congresswoman Jackson Lee and Congressmen McCaul and Cuellar for their support in our fight to keep the C-130s at the 136th Airlift Wing in Ft.

I appreciate all of the good work all of you all are doing.

I would ask you, please take a look at the GAO report.

This type of reduction is particularly troubling as it comes at a time when DHS is looking to maximize its available resources.