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Week Ending September 15, 2006

 

H.R.6061 To establish operational control over the international land and maritime borders of the United States.

 

Although border protection would clearly be in the realm of the Department of Homeland Security this bill plants the operation control of the borders (land and maritime) under the DHS Director. As such DHS would be engaged in ‘systematic’ border surveillance using human and technological resources. DHS would also implement physical barriers and checkpoints as a means to interdict illegal entry.

 

A fence of at least two layers along with physical barriers would be authorized for a total of more than 700 miles and would be installed from ten miles west of Tecate, California port of entry to ten miles east of that site. Other fencing would span from ten miles west of Calexico, CA port of entry to five miles east of Douglas AZ port of entry; five miles west of Columbus, NM port of entry to ten miles east of El Paso, TX; five miles northwest of Del Rio, TX port of entry to five miles southeast of Eagle Pass, TX port of entry and 15 miles northwest of Laredo, TX port of entry to the Brownsville, TX port of entry.

 

If topography has an elevation grade above 10% DHS may use other means such as surveillance and barriers.

 

An interlocking camera surveillance system would be required to be in place by may 30, 2007 and the fence would be finished by the same date in 2008. The Laredo, TX section of the fence would be completed by December 31, 2008

 

On the northern border a study would be conducted and a report to Congress is ordered on the necessity and feasibility of constructing a state-of-the-art barrier system along that border. Another report would be an evaluation of the US Customs and Border Protection’s authority to stop fleeing vehicles entering the US.

 

 

Sponsor: Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY-3rd)

Vote: Passed House 283 to 138 (RC 446). A Motion to Recommit the bill failed 193 to 224 (RC 445) September 14, 2006.

Cost to the taxpayers: Discussion of the bill indicated a cost of $7 billion. The bill does not authorize or appropriate funds.

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No reproduction, language translation or distribution without written permission from TheWeekInCongress.com.(TM)