Senate Proceeding on Sep 27th, 2008 :: 1:42:50 to 1:54:10
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1:42:27 to 1:42:50( Edit History Discussion )

Thad Cochran: officer: the senator from west virginia. mr. byrd: madam president, i thank the very able and distinguished senator. and i certify that the information required by senate rule 44 related to congressionally

1:42:50 to 1:43:20( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: directed spending has been available on a publicly accessible congressional website in a searchable format at least 48 hours before a vote on the pending bill. madam president, i speak today -- i speak today

1:42:50 to 1:54:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Robert Byrd

1:43:20 to 1:43:49( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: in support of the fy2009 homeland security -- fy 2009 homeland security appropriations bill, which addresses america's most critical and pressing security needs. the appropriations committee, which was

1:43:49 to 1:44:12( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: established in 1857, -- 1867, the appropriations committee by a vote of 29-0, produced a balanced and responsible bill. we had a good negotiation with the house. the legislation invests the resources

1:44:12 to 1:44:48( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: needed to protect our citizens from deadly terrori attacks, to secure our borders an force u.s. -- and force u.s. immigration laws, and to ensure a rapid and effective federal response to both natural

1:44:48 to 1:45:11( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: and manmade disasters. the bill total is $42.2 billion. madam president, that is $42.20 for every minute since jesus christ was born. the bill total is $42.2 billion, which is $2.4 billion above the president's

1:45:11 to 1:45:40( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: budget request. and despite -- hear me now -- despite the administration's assertion that al qaeda has reconstituted itself in pakistan with the goal of striking america, the president -- now get this. the

1:45:40 to 1:46:01( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: president submitted a flat budget proposal for the department of homeland security. i'm going to read that again. it bears -- it bears reading again. despite the administration's assertion -- that's

1:46:01 to 1:46:21( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: this administration -- this administration's assertion that al qaeda has reconstituted itself in pakistan with the goal of striking america, the president submitted -- that's your president, my president,

1:46:21 to 1:46:40( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: our president, madam president -- the president submitted a flat budget proposal for the department of homeland security. the president -- your president, my president, our president debater proposed

1:46:40 to 1:47:06( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: deep cuts. you hear that? the president proposed deep cuts in funding for our tphaeurbs's first responders -- for our nation's first responders. so the message that is now before the senate increases our ability

1:47:06 to 1:47:41( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: to secure the homeland. this homeland, our homeland -- by increasing resources for border security, restoring irresponsible cuts in first responder grants, funding immigration enforcement and increasing

1:47:41 to 1:48:11( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: funding above the president's request for core homeland security missions that help to keep our people, your people, my people, our people safe. finally, the bill includes new requirements for contracting

1:48:11 to 1:48:38( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: procurement and program oversight, helping to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being carefully spent. the legislation significantly increases resources for border security, including $775 million

1:48:38 to 1:49:12( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: as requested for border fencing and technology on this southwest border and funding to hire 2,200 new border patrol agents and 892 new customs officers. the legislation provides significant resources

1:49:12 to 1:49:40( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: for immigration enforcement, including over $1 billion to identify and remove from the united states criminal aliens who are either at large or already incarcerated in prisons or jails, funding for

1:49:40 to 1:50:20( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: 1,400 new detention beds, $60 million above the request for work site enforcement, and $226 million to fully fund 104 fugitive operations teams that locate and remove illegal aliens who have been ordered

1:50:29 to 1:50:59( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: removed from the country. the legislation restores irresponsible cuts in first responder grants by providing $4.244,016,000,000 above fy 1978 and $2.4 above the president's fy 2009 request. port security

1:50:59 to 1:51:26( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: grants are funded at $400 million and rail and transit security grants are funded at $400 million. fire act grants are funded at $565 million, which is $265 million over the president and safer

1:51:26 to 1:51:48( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: grants are funded at $210 million, which the president proposed to eliminate. the bill provides critical increases above the president's request for core homeland security missions, including the coast

1:51:48 to 1:52:20( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: guard, the secret service, aviation security, and fema. i ask unanimous consent that a more detailed description be made a part of the record. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. byrd:

1:52:20 to 1:52:57( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: and i thank the very able, very distinguished senator, thad cochran, the ranking member, for his many notable contributions to this legislation. i also thank our able majority and minority staff who worked together

1:52:57 to 1:53:30( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: to produce this legislation. let me name them. charles keiffer. let me say that again, the inimitable charles keiffer. chip walgren. scott nance. drennan dudley. christa thompson. thad gallion. rebecca

1:53:30 to 1:54:10( Edit History Discussion )

Robert Byrd: davies. carol cribs. aris avani. and adam morrison. madam president, i yield the floor. and i thank all senators. the presiding officer: thank you. mr. cochran: madam president, i suggest the absence of