Thread: The Texas Border Coalition is trying to scuttle the border f

The Texas Border Coalition is trying to scuttle the border fence in Texas. See below this article to see who they are. I can't connect to their website and only got what I did from the cached version. We need to contact these US Senators to tell them not to listen to these people. This fence is still very much needed for protection, but they want to scuttle it probably for cheap labor and other self interests.

Texas officials oppose pedestrian border fence
A group of elected Texas officials urged Congress on Wednesday to block a move to require more pedestrian fences along the U.S.-Mexico border from California to Texas.

The Texas Border Coalition wants a House-Senate conference committee to remove language from the spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security that would require the federal government to replace vehicle barriers and a high-technology virtual fence with pedestrian fencing.

The pedestrian fence provision was added as an amendment to the spending bill on a 54-44 vote in the Senate. Advocates for the provision said it was needed to better protect the border.

Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer of California voted in favor of the amendment, along with Republican Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn of Texas. New Mexico Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, both Democrats, voted against the measure sponsored by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.

Congress authorized 700 miles of fence along the U.S.-Mexico border in 2006. Homeland security has 370 miles of fence under contract, with the remainder to be secured by vehicle barriers, as well as technology and sensors.

Some portions of uncompleted fence remain under court challenge.

The Texas Border Coalition, made up of mayors, county judges and economic development officials, argues that the fence funds would be better spent on improvements to border ports to better inspect cargo and facilitate legal trade.

Chad Foster, mayor of Eagle Pass, Texas, chairman of the coalition, said the fence, built at a cost of $3.5 billion, has only forced narcotics traffickers and smugglers of undocumented immigrants to develop counter strategies to move contraband and people into the United States.

"If Congress perceives the purpose of the border fence is to seal the border from illegal activity, then the program is and will continue to be a failure," Foster said.

DeMint vowed to work to keep the provision in the final bill.

But House Democrats from the four Southwest border states - California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas - are lobbying leaders to instead use the funds to better equip the overcrowded and understaffed ports of entry.

The House did not include the measure in its version of the spending bill, which is now before a House-Senate conference committee to iron out differences in the two pieces of legislation.

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, called DeMint's amendment "a waste of taxpayer's money."

The provision would require that pedestrian fence account for all 700 miles of barriers authorized by Congress in 2006, and be completed by Dec. 31, 2010.

This article appeared on page A - 10 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... z0R3R0yIU6

The Texas Border Coalition
Our Border, Our Future



TBC Endorses Rep. Grijalva's U.S. Border Protection Bill

EAGLE PASS, Texas (April 28, 2009) – The Texas Border Coalition (TBC) today endorsed legislation by U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D- Ariz., that would require the federal government to develop a comprehensive border protection strategy for the nation.

The Border Security and Responsibility Act of 2009 would require the federal government to consult with state, local and tribal officials on any U.S. border security plan that impacts health and environment. Under the measure, no additional construction of border barriers could take place until 90 days after the completion of a border strategy document.

"This legislation is an important step toward creating smart and effective measures that will achieve true border security." said Eagle Pass Mayor and TBC Chairman Chad Foster.

Grijalva's legislation would repeal the waiver "of any law" that former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff used to expedite construction of border fencing.

In Texas, fencing is currently being built more than a mile from the border, trapping people – workers, families, farmers, ranchers, retirees – and wildlife.

As it stands, emergency or law enforcement personnel aren't able to rescue people or property when fire, flood or crime requires evacuation," Foster said. "Wildlife aren't able to access the life-giving resources of the Rio Grande River. People and wildlife – in many cases, endangered species – will die."

Under Grijalva's measure, Homeland Security officials would also be required to give first priority, where practicable, to the establishment of buffer zones on protected open space, additional manpower, unmanned aerial vehicles, remote cameras, sensors, vehicle barriers, removal of non-native vegetation, incorporation of natural barriers, or other low impact border enforcement techniques.

In addition, the legislation would authorize the mitigation of environmental damages caused by past or future fencing, and environmental and cultural training would be required for personnel involved in construction and operation of border barriers.

About the Texas Border Coalition
The Texas Border Coalition (TBC) is a collective voice of border mayors, county judges, economic development commissions focused on issues that affect more than 2.1 million people along the Texas-Mexico border region and economically disadvantaged counties from El Paso to Brownsville. TBC is working closely with the state and federal government to educate, advocate, and secure funding for transportation, immigration and ports of entry, workforce and education and health care. For more information, visit the coalition Web site at www.texasbordercoaltion.org.

They sure are.

Dixie

About the Texas Border Coalition

"In 1998 communities from throughout the Texas Border Region came together to form the Texas Border Infrastructure Coalition (TBIC) to develop key recommendations for the 76th Texas Legislature...Today, the organization is known as the Texas Border Coalition (TBC)"

The Vision and Mission

Vision

TBC vision is to be recognized leader and authority for the Texas-Mexico region in order to bring attention to the infrastructure needs of the communities along the border.



Mission

To make recommendations to the Texas Legislature to help the entire Texas-Mexico border region to continue to grow and prosper economically. To that end, the TBC will work to:

Provide a better quality of life for the residents of the Texas-Mexico border region by providing economic development opportunities and sustainable incomes in a healthy and safe environment.

Make the flow of goods and products between Texas-Mexico as efficient as possible by advocating for the necessary funding needed in the border region.

Advocate federal and state investments and incentives in Transportation, Immigration and Ports of Entry, Workforce and Education, Healthcare and other areas considered vital to the fulfillment of the mission of the TBC.



Founder
"Mike A. Allen, featured right, founder and former chairman of the Texas Border Coalition, has announced he will resign from the organization in order to focus on medical treatments for an undisclosed illness. Allen is also stepping down from the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, but he will remain on the South Texas College Board of Trustees."
http://www.edinburgpolitics.com/2007/05 ... -trustees/

Committee Members
Transportation Committee
Chair, Honorable Judge Jose “Pepeâ€

Thanks Dixie!!

You're welcome.

They sure sound like the mouth piece for the SPP.

They must not believe the fence is needed infrastructure. Also, notice they were set up to approach the TX Legislature but they've run off to DC? With that cast of big business clowns, we know what they are about.

Dixie

Originally Posted by Dixie

You're welcome.

They sure sound like the mouth piece for the SPP.

They must not believe the fence is needed infrastructure. Also, notice they were set up to approach the TX Legislature but they've run off to DC? With that cast of big business clowns, we know what they are about.

Dixie

Yes, I guess they think their little corner of Texas has the right to run America. They should have no more input in deciding the security of this nation than anyone else.