Pete Sessions: “a few weeks ago, on May 17, by a vote of 83 to 16, we approved my amendment to mandate the construction of at least 370…”

“a few weeks ago, on May 17, by a vote of 83 to 16, we approved my amendment to mandate the construction of at least 370 miles of fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers along the southwest border of the United States. That was a very strong vote. It represented the request of Secretary Chertoff of the Department of Homeland Security. It was the amount of barriers and construction that he felt was necessary to help him create a secure border. I believe this Senate meant it when we voted to do that. When the vehicle came forward on Homeland Security, we failed to fund this project. I think it left this body in an embarrassing position, telling the American people we are for barriers at the border, we are for meeting the request of the Secretary of Homeland Security, but, by the way, we are not going to put up any money to fund it. I know there were reasons that some felt it couldn't be afforded under the amendment process, which gave the appropriators a requirement to find it within the $30-billion-plus Homeland Security bill, but we are now in a position where we feel there are funds available that we can utilize to make this step. We believe this is a germane amendment to the Defense bill. The National Guard is going to be a part of our border security, and the National Guard does have the authority to enter into construction and other engineering projects as part of their directive to assist in securing the border. That is where we are today.…”