Thread: Border Security Bill Introduced On Rep. Giffords Behalf

Border Security Bill Introduced On Rep. Giffords Behalf
Would Create Better CellPhone Service Along Border
Jason Barry
Reporter, KPHO.com

POSTED: 4:35 pm MST March 31, 2011
UPDATED: 8:13 pm MST March 31, 2011


PHOENIX -- U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is recovering in a rehab hospital in Texas, but her influence is still being felt in Washington.

Lawmakers introduced a bill.to improve security and safety along the border on Giffords' behalf.

One of the big problems along the border is sketchy cell phone service, making it difficult - for law enforcement agencies to communicate with each other. It's also tough for someone in trouble to call for help.

Thursday, one of Gabrielle Giffords plans to fix the problem took center stage in Washington.

Rep. Ted Poe of Texas introduced HR1277 Thursday. Giffords and Poe had been working on border legislation for several months, according to Giffords' staff members.

Giffords is still recovering from a gunshot wound she suffered during a mass shooting in Tucson in January.

A spokesperson for Giffords said The Southern Borderlands Public Communications Act is designed to improve cellphone service along the border.

"When you use a cellphone to call 911, you expect an operator to pick up," said Giffords' Communications Director C.J. Karamargin. "Sadly, that's not possible in parts of Arizona and along the border. It is in our national interest to improve cell reception and border security. That is what this bill is all about."

At the Arizona Capitol on Thursday, lawmakers honored Robert Krentz, the Arizona rancher murdered by a suspected illegal immigrant last year.

Krentz' wife and cousin said building new cellphone towers along the border would make a huge difference.

"If the border patrol can't communicate and law enforcement can't communicate, it trickles down to private citizens," said Sue Krentz. "This will be very effective tool."

"Where we live, if we need help we need help in the first 10 minutes," said Krentz' cousin Don Kimble. "We need all the help we can get.",

If passed, HR 1277 would make federal grants available to finance cellphone towers and satellite equipment along the U.S.-Mexico border.

"Every Arizonan wants to live safe and free," said Krentz.

http://www.kpho.com/news/27391535/detail.html

Hope for better cell service near the border
Posted: Apr 01, 2011 7:28 PM CDT Updated: Apr 01, 2011 8:59 PM CDT

Video Gallery: Hope for better cell service at the border
2:47


A Texas congressman is picking up where Congresswoman Giffords left off, trying to improve cell phone service near the border.

Reporter: Tammy Vo

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - On behalf of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Rep. Ted Poe has introduced H.R. 1277, the Southern Borderlands Public Safety Communications Act.

It's been one year since a prominent southern Arizona rancher, Robert Krentz, was murdered on his ranch in an area where cell phone service is next to nothing. For the past year, Congresswoman Giffords and KGUN 9 have been pressing the cell phone companies for answers as to whether they plan to improve service. Giffords discovered for herself just how hard it was to get cell phone service in Cochise County last year while trying to call Secretary Janet Napolitano.

"They looked at their cell phones, we looked at ours and it said 'no service'. There's no excuse for anything like this" said CJ Karamargin, a spokesman from Giffords' office.

Giffords was about to take the issue to Capitol Hill when the tragedy on January eigth happened. But the shooting didn't stop Giffords' friend, Congressman Ted Poe, from stepping up.

On Thursday in front of Congress Poe said, "So today I'm filing legislation that is the idea of Mrs. Giffords. This bill is in memory of Robert Krentz."

Giffords' office invited Poe to the Arizona border last week. He explained to congress how ranchers are forced to communicate with each other by radio because cell phone service is so bad.

The proposed law would offer grants through Homeland Security to help pay for equipment to improve mobile communications. But the law would have to get the thumbs up from the house and senate. In the senate, it would need a sponsor. KGUN 9 asked Senators Kyl and McCain if they would consider sponsoring the legislation. As of deadline on Friday, McCain's office said that their office and Senator Kyl's office are introducing an updated 10 point border security plan next week and that this issue is addressed in that package. Senator Kyl's office said that they haven't had a chance to review the proposal.

Spokesman Karamargin told Reporter Tammy Vo that Congresswoman Giffords will feel fantastic about the fact that efforts to improve communication near the border are continuing.

"This is another one of those things that I am going to put on my 'cant wait to tell Gabby list' because it's an example of the good that can come when people make up their minds to work together" said Karamargin.

Gifford's office tells KGUN 9 that if the proposal becomes law, the money to pay for the grants will come from money that was saved with the elimination of a program within the U.S. Forest Service.


http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=14369288#