Congressional Republicans will send President Bush a $1.2 billion “border security” package that will enable the administration to put up fences along the southern border of the United States.
“I think this represents a down-payment on our efforts to make our borders secure,” House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters Tuesday.
The bill is being finished off by a Senate-House conference committee and will head to the president’s desk by the end of the week, Boehner said.
The money in the bill is supposed to develop a “border infrastructure” including fences, vehicles and surveillance equipment. Itwill also pay for 1,500 new Border Patrol agents.
The bill represents a small victory for House Republicans, who bucked President Bush earlier this year when he moved for “a pathway to citizenship” bill many called an amnesty.
By focusing on “enforcement first,” the Republicans hope they can sway voters ahead of the November elections.
Boehner also promised to move legislation that would allow the U.S. to try suspected terrorists in military tribunals and would allow the Bush administration to continue its warrantless eavesdropping of citizens.
Democrats say that the Republicans are panicking ahead of the election and are rushing through last-minute, pandering legislation after a session of doing nothing.
Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., has repeatedly called the GOP-held Congress “the do-nothing Congress.”
Boehner bristled at the suggestion Tuesday.
“It may be a do-nothing Congress for Mr. Hoyer and the Democrats because by and large, they stand on the sidelines and do nothing,” Boehner said.
