On the recordJuly 31, 2014
To fully support the Customs and Border Protection's mission, we include a provision to allow unfettered access to Federal lands. Right now, through a memorandum of understanding, Border Patrol officials are only permitted to pursue suspects onto Federal lands. They cannot do regular patrols. Finally, the supplemental includes a sense of Congress that children should not be detained at military bases. While this will not change the law, this provision addresses a serious and growing concern for Members of Congress, not the least of concerns is that children should not be stored on military bases. The Congressional Budget Office has given its assessment of policy changes in this bill. They have said that, because the legislation allows for the children to self-deport, it will lead to immediate savings. This is a smart, targeted bill that addresses the crisis immediately. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the supplemental and show the American people that we are going to end this crisis.
