Baucus, Tester statements on strengthening border security

(Washington D.C.) – Montana’s U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester today released the following statements after voting to support bipartisan legislation to strengthen border security:

“We’ve got to make sure that all Montanans and Americans are safe and that can only happen when our borders are secure,” said Baucus. “Tightening security will help protect our homes, our jobs, our children and our lives, and it’s only right that we take securing our borders very seriously.”

“Folks who want to work in this country need to get in line and follow the rules,” said Tester, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.  “And we need to enforce those rules, starting with beefing up our border security.  Every step we take to secure our borders—both southern, and northern—is a step toward ending illegal immigration and making our communities safer.”

The senators voted to support amendments to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill that would tighten border security by using existing funding to send an additional 6,000 National Guard troops and other resources to the nation’s southern land border. This military support is in addition to 1,200 troops that President Obama recently ordered.