On the recordJanuary 25, 2012
As a former sheriff, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3801 because it would address the increasing use of ultralight aircraft in the smuggling of contraband across our borders. We also move this bill today in honor of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the sponsor of this bill. She ably represented Arizona's Eighth Congressional District since being elected to the United States House of Representatives in November of 2006. In fact, our offices were next door to each other when she first arrived in Congress, and we had an opportunity to walk and talk and share some stories, and I learned from her that she came to Congress for the right reasons--she is concerned about her constituents and cares and loves this country deeply. So we got to know each other just a little bit. And one of her foremost concerns has been the safety of her constituents. This bill is but one way in which she addressed those concerns, working together with her good friend and tireless colleague, Representative Flake. I'm delighted that we can move this bipartisan bill. We look forward to the day when Gabrielle fully recovers. The use of ultralights, which are small, slow, highly maneuverable, single-seat recreation air vehicles is a proven way to smuggle contraband. These planes fly at a very low altitude and do not even have to land; they simply drop their bundles of contraband at a predestined point and fly back undetected.…
