U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann toured the border wall under construction in El Paso, Texas over the weekend and said today that such barriers are "paramount to proper border security."
Fleischmann, the ranking Republican member of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Homeland Security and one of 17 Congressional conferees trying to work out a budget plan to avoid another government shutdown, has called for a comprehensive immigration solution to help resolve the budget impasse.
Congress approved a temporary spending measure last month to reopen those government agencies shut down in December by the impasse over funding for a wall President Trump is pushing along the southern border of the United States. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said the Democrats will not support more money for a border wall, although other technology and staffing support should be provided. President Trump said last week it is "a waste of time" studying spending plans that don't include more money for more of the wall construction along the Mexican border.
"I believe there are many elements to the border security solution, and my visit today confirmed that conversations regarding border security should be comprehensive," Fleischmann said in a statement today. "My tour of the El Paso del Norte Border Crossing highlighted the immense volume of traffic this location experiences, and the vital role that proper drug detection technology plays in the security of our nation."
Fleischmann said he saw first hand vehicles transporting illegal drugs seized by border patrol agents and was with a delegation of House members who also toured the wall under construction in El Paso.
"This new construction is evidence that an operationally effective barrier is paramount to proper border security," Fleischmann said in a statement. "Along the New Mexico border, I visited with border patrol agents, listened to their stories, and thanked them for risking their lives to protect our nation."
Fleischmann is returning to Washington D.C. for President Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday when Fleischmann will host Tennessee's new governor, Bill Lee, at the event and is meetings with other members of Congress.