US House of Reps Vote 259 - 167 To Keep Borders Safer

Yesterday, the US House of Representatives voted a miraculous 259-167 to keep the US/Mexico border safer. The Republicans voted unanimously 174-0 in favor of the pro-enforcement change to H.R. 324 (the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area Act) and it only needed about 40-45 Democrats to vote YES to get the Rep. Bishop (R-Utah) amendment to the bill passed. An astounding 85 Democrats voted YES with the Republicans in favor of the change. In the final minutes of voting, a total of 38 Democrats had changed their NO votes to YES. The bill now goes to the Senate for it's consideration.


What is the H.R. 324 Arizona bill? This bill would establish the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area in Arizona. It would require that the Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance, Inc in Arizona prepare and submit a management plan for the area (Arizona/Mexico Border). In addition, the plan must include and inventory all the natural and historical resources within the Heritage Area that should be protected. The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area would encompass about 3325 sq. miles.

What does Rep. Bishop's (R-Utah) amendment allow for? Well, the original bill did not account for any enforcement dutes of Border Patrol. This huge loophole would have been used to block the efforts to stop the movement of illegal aliens, drug traffickers and human smugglers across the huge Arizona area. This amendment adds the language to guarantee no prohibitions on border enforcement and to make a permanent key highway checkpoint. It would also allow for the establishment of communication towers, fencing, cameras and/or sensors along the US/Mexico border. More than 4,000 people a day illegally cross into Arizona, overwhelming the border patrol and straining communities. Illegal immigration in Arizona accounts for 51% of Border Patrol arrests. Three times as many border crossers get through Arizona than are actually caught. Illegal aliens are taxing the facilities, land and resources in the U.S. Small town hospitals are having to close due to mounting expenses from caring for illigal immigrants. Land owners along the border are beset by cut fences, loss of cattle, theft and pollution.

The bill was voted and defeated by a tally of 249-145 on a Septemeber 8, 2009 consideration, failing to obtain it's 2/3 majority vote requirement. With the new amendment it passed with flying colors. We escaped a potential disaster in which much of southern Arizona would be largely off-limits to intense Border Patrol activities, while leaving it open to the drug and human smugglers.