Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Vela), and the gentleman from New York…”

“I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Vela), and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko) for their great leadership. Mr. Speaker, the good news is that we on the Committee on Homeland Security work together very well on many of these issues. I rise to support the Northern Border Security Review Act, H.R. 455. My colleague from Texas (Mr. Vela) is the ranking member. I am delighted to be able to support a bill that captures all of what we have been speaking of over the years. As a member of Homeland Security, there are two borders. There is the southern border, for which I certainly have concern, as a Representative from Texas, but there is also the northern border. I am glad to say I have been to the northern border, walked along the northern border. Let me say thank you for the aspects of this bill. H.R. 455 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a classified northern border threat analysis on terrorism threats posed by individuals seeking to enter the United States, improvements needed at ports of entry, gaps in law, policy, international agreements, illegal cross- border activity, and the scope of the border security challenges. This is a complete picture of the Nation's border, including whether additional preclearance and preinspection by CBP at ports of entry along the northern border could help prevent terrorists and their instruments from entering the United States. Canada has been a longstanding friend.…”