SAN DIEGO–Congressman Bob Filner Thursday voted to secure emergency funding for border security. H.R. 5875, the 2010 Emergency Border Security Supplemental Appropriations Bill provides a total of $701 million to help protect the Southwest Border by strengthening border security and enforcement efforts.
“We need a smart border that facilitates commerce, protects our communities and makes our ports of entry efficient,” said Congressman Filner. “This money will help us create an effective, efficient and secure border.”
The bill, among other things, includes $208.4 million for 1,200 additional Border Patrol agents deployed between the ports of entry along the Southwest Border; $136 million to maintain current Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer staffing levels and add 500 additional officers at ports of entry along the Southwest Border; $50 million for Operation Stonegarden grants to support local law enforcement activities on the border; $30 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities directed at reducing the threat of narcotics smuggling and associated violence; and, $10 million for a surge of workforce integrity investigations designed to prevent corruption among CBP officers and agents.
The $701 million in funding is offset by $201 million in rescissions from programs that no longer require the funding; therefore the total cost of the bill is equal to the President’s request for emergency border security funding.
Congressman Filner represents California’s 51st District which encompasses southern San Diego County and all of Imperial County, including the entire California/Mexico border.
