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Leadership in Congress
As the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism, Congressman Henry Cuellar is actively engaged in coordinating and overseeing those security measures which protect the American people from the 21st Century threats we face today.
Now more than ever, our nation's Homeland Security efforts affect all aspects of American travel, commerce and everyday living. Particularly in Texas, there is a balance between maintaining legitimate trade, travel and border security. As a native to the nation's souther international border, Congressman Cuellar understand how vital it is to secure our nation's Land Ports of Entry from the security challenges of today.
As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee and as the Subcommittee Chairman handling border affairs, Congressman Cuellar actively promotes the collaborative efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to better protect our border and to respond to the evolving threats and violence associated with drug trafficking, human trafficking, weapons smuggling, arms trades and cash and contraband moving across our nation's borders.
As the former Chairman to the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response, Congressman Cuellar has been an active partner in preparing our nation's first responders, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency as they work together to prevent and respond to acts of terrorism, natural disasters and other national emergencies.
Leadership in Texas
Born and raised in Laredo, Texas, Congressman Cuellar understands how important it is to secure our nation's borders and balance our nation's trade. Since coming to Congress in 2005, he's worked hard to secure additional federal funding for our nation's Land Ports of Entry (LOE).
By enhancing our nation's on the ground customs and passenger security and screening measures, he's helped ensure what comes in and out of our country is safe for the American people.
Both the United States and Mexico work together to secure our shared border and Congressman Cuellar meets frequently with Mexican officials in both the United States and in Mexico to address issues of trade, immigraion, drug violence, weapons smuggling and the ongoing Merida Initiative which supports military training and equipment to Mexico.
In 2009, the House, the Senate and the President signed into law legislation Congressman Cuellar authored calling for a high-level commission between the United States and Mexico. This partnership will create a bilateral information alliance to streamline law enforcement initiatives between our two nations as we collectively protect our shared border.
Since coming to Congress, Congressman Cuellar has authored dozens of border security-related bills, including H.R. 1437 the Southern Border Security Taskforce Act of 2009 which directs DHS to create a security task force to coordinate the efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement officials to protect U.S. Border Cities from the violence associated with drug trafficking.
In December 2009, this legislation was included in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP), a bill that also falls into the jurisdiction fo the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism.
Also in 2009, the House passed legislation, authored by Congressman Cuellar, calling for a U.S. Coast Guard mission analysis to determine the Coast Guard's presence along the Rio Grande. The 1,800 mile river and international waterway seperates the U.S. and Mexico and is vitally important to the interdiction of drugs, weapons and contraband.
Securing Our Communities
As Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism, Congressman Cuellar called on Customs and Border Protection to move swiftly in February 2010 towards deploying an unmanned aerial surveillance vehicle along the Texas-Mexico Border to gather criticle intelligence information to help secure Texas against drug trafficking, weapons smuggling and potential threats of terrorism.
The UAV would be the first of its kind in Texas and would monitor the southern Texas Border along the Rio Grande. Congressman Cuellar met with officials from Customs and Border Protection this February and March to discuss the UAV project and other parts of the United States where this technology could be used to secure the nation's borders. This March, the Coast Guard started using UAV technology off the coast of Florida for search and rescue missions.
Since serving on the House Homeland Security Committee, Congressman Cuellar made several requests in support of an unmanned aircraft along the Texas Border as the technology can help the nation meet the evolving threats facing our nation's coastal areas, southern and northern borders.
Since 2005, UAVs have patrolled the Southern Border outside of Texas. Congressman Cuellar believes that having eyes in the skies along remote sections of our borders will help us further augment the good work of CBP and help protect our nation's CBP officers on the ground.
To read more about this program, please visit: http://www.cuellar.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=171434
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