Reps Push Pentagon to Move Equipment to Border

Updated: Tuesday, 27 Mar 2012, 6:14 AM MST
Published : Tuesday, 27 Mar 2012, 6:06 AM MST

HOUSTON (AP) — Two Texas lawmakers are pushing the Pentagon to hand off surplus combat equipment from Iraq to local law enforcement agencies along the U.S.-Mexico border. The equipment includes Humvees, weapons and night vision goggles.

The Houston Chronicle reports Texas Reps. Ted Poe and Henry Cuellar have been joined by 17 border sheriffs from Texas, New Mexico and Arizona in a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta requesting that he move up delivery of surplus equipment.

The lawmakers said more than 1.5 million pieces of equipment have already been shipped out of Iraq over the last year, and nearly 900,000 pieces remain.

Poe also has a bill pending in Congress that would require the Department of Defense to make 10 percent of certain equipment returning from Iraq available to law enforcement agencies patrolling the southern border.

Reps Push Pentagon to Move Equipment to Border