Gordon’s Committee Clears Border Security Bill

February 27, 2008, WASHINGTON – Legislation U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon is co-sponsoring to improve the nation’s border security through the use of better technology was approved by the House Science and Technology Committee today.

“The United States has thousands of miles of border but only a limited number of agents to patrol that vast and sometimes rugged terrain,” said Gordon, the committee’s chairman. “While there is no substitute for manpower, better technology can help Border Patrol agents monitor our borders more effectively.”

The bipartisan bill, H.R. 3916, instructs the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate to expand research and development in the area of border security. The legislation would assist in the prevention of drug smuggling and illegal border crossings by boosting the development of technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles, tunnel detection and anti-counterfeit equipment.

According to Homeland Security, Border Patrol agents made more than 864,000 apprehensions and seized more than 2.6 million pounds of narcotics last year.

“The 9/11 Commission pointed to our broken borders as a potential way for terrorists to gain entry into our country,” said Gordon. “And we know drugs are coming into our communities after they are smuggled across the border. Technology can help reduce the smuggling and illegal crossings by giving Border Patrol agents the tools they need to patrol rugged and remote areas of the border.”