by Gary Martin
San Antonio Express
Border lawmakers from Southwest states were instrumental in pressing the House to pass a $701 million bill Wednesday for security measures on the U.S.-Mexico border after the money was stripped out of a previous war funding bill in the Senate.
by Bill Hess
Sierra Vista Herald
Although $701 million for border security was cut by the U.S. Senate last week from the war supplemental bill, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the same amount Wednesday in an emergency border security funding bill.
The funds’ revival was introduced by Democratic U.S. Rep. David Price of North Carolina, chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Tucson, had fought for the funds since they were removed by the Senate. Arizona’s two GOP U.S. senators voted to remove the money and other funds totaling nearly $20 billion that had been added to the supplemental bill by House members.
“I promised members of the Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association when I spoke to them last week that I would fight for this funding,” said Giffords, who represents Arizona 8th Congressional District.
Dylan Smith
Tucson Sentinel
The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to boost spending on border security by $701 million.
The Senate stripped the border enforcement money from a war spending bill last Thursday. After a weeks’ pushing by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Border Security Act was passed on a voice vote Wednesday evening.
Posted by Hank Stephenson
Tucson Weekly
Representative Gabrielle Giffords says today’s ruling imposing a partial injunction against SB 1070 by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton is “an affirmation of the fact that the enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws is the responsibility of federal government.”
She also took the opportunity to push for her $701 million in emergency border security funds.
by Hank Stephenson
The Tucson Weekly
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords had some strong words for the U.S. Senate last week, after they knocked down her bill, the Emergency Border Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, which would allot an extra $701 million to fortify the border.
“Southern Arizonans should be appalled that the United States Senate said ‘no’ to supporting the troops on the border, said ‘no’ to protecting the ranchers in my district who are threatened daily and said ‘no’ to increasing border patrol agents who would help stop the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants into our country,” Giffords said in a statement last Friday.
(more…)
Fox 11 News
The Tucson Weekly Range Blog
Congresswoman Giffords sends news on Congress canceling cash for border security.
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and two colleagues from southwest border states are urging House leaders to restore $701 million in border security funds that were stripped from an appropriations bill last week by the Senate.
“This funding is essential to maintain safe communities on the border and crack down on drug smuggling and other border crime,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. “We strongly urge you to work with the Senate to reinstate this funding.”
by Bill Hess
Sierra Vista Herald
Add-ons to war funding bill blamed for defeat in Senate
The demise in the U.S. Senate of more than $700 million for border security brought reaction Friday from both sides of the political aisle.
Arizona Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords said she was appalled by Senate action on a House bill that includes the extra money for border security.
“Southern Arizonans should be appalled that the United States Senate said no to supporting our troops on the border, said no to protecting the ranches in my district who are threatened daily and said no to increasing Border Patrol agents who would help stop the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants into our country. Arizonans repeatedly have said they want stronger border security, and senators yesterday turned their backs on them,” she said Friday.
by Rhonda Bodfield
Arizona Daily Star Pueblo Politics Blog
Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords says she is outraged at her Senate colleagues for killing $700 million in emergency border security funds from a war funding appropriations bill.
On Thursday night, the Senate voted against some $20 billion in domestic spending that was tacked onto a $59 billion war funding request. The additional projects included stepped-up border security efforts, as well as money for teachers, summer jobs and student loans.
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