John Cornyn: “let me start by complimenting the Senator from Nevada on his concerns with regard to staffing at our ports of entry…”

“let me start by complimenting the Senator from Nevada on his concerns with regard to staffing at our ports of entry, airports, and seaports. We have similar challenges, even at our land ports in Texas where legitimate commerce and tourism is taking place but which is being inhibited because of hardship or inconvenience on travelers because of a lack of staffing and infrastructure at those ports of entry. I have come to the floor to talk about an amendment I intend to offer, which I have discussed over the last couple of days, which uses many of the same standards the underlying Gang of 8 bill does. Let me explain. Of course, the Gang of 8 represents the Republicans and Democrats who came up with the original framework that then was adopted, by and large, by the Judiciary Committee, which is the base bill we are talking about today. But both the Gang of 8 bill and the results amendment which I will introduce call for the Department of Homeland Security to achieve 100 percent situational awareness of the southern border in 10 years. Both the Gang of 8 bill and the RESULTS amendment that I will offer call for the Department of Homeland Security to achieve full operational control of the border, which is defined as a 90-percent apprehension rate of illegal traffic.…”