Chambliss, Isakson Criticize Democratic Leaders’ Decision to Eliminate Border Security Funds from Defense Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today criticized the decision by Democratic leaders to eliminate critical border security funding in the Department of Defense Appropriations Conference Report. Differences between the Senate and House versions of the legislation were approved Tuesday by a committee of negotiators.

The border security funding had been added to the bill in an amendment sponsored by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, that was approved by the Senate on October 3, 2007, by a vote of 95 to 1. That amendment provides $3 billion to immediately pay for some of the manpower and technology necessary to secure the U.S. border.

“Earlier this year we had a very heated immigration debate in which we heard overwhelmingly from the American public that border security is their number one concern,â€