Pete Sessions: “less than 2 months ago, on May 17, my colleagues, by a vote of 83 to 16, approved my amendment to the Department of…”

“less than 2 months ago, on May 17, my colleagues, by a vote of 83 to 16, approved my amendment to the Department of Homeland Security immigration bill to construct at least 370 miles of fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers along the southwest border of the United States. This was based on the statement of the Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary Chertoff, that this was what he believed was necessary to create a border enforcement system. Of course, a fence is not a cure-all, but it is a very real and integral component of enforcement at the border. Many of the areas we have the greatest difficulty with are urban areas. You can't put a policeman at every single street corner where people can walk across. So a barrier is necessary. We have a number of barriers in San Diego and other places, and they have worked very well. Crime on both sides of the border has decreased, property values have increased in those areas, and economic development has occurred. So there is no doubt--and it is not something that is mysterious-- that a good fencing procedure will help us in many ways. It is something we discussed and debated, and then when we voted, we voted 83 to 16 to approve it--a bipartisan vote. But what I wish to make clear is this was simply an authorization. It represented a promise, a commitment by the Senate that we would build fencing.…”