{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/liberals-block-graves-bill-end-border-crisis", "Liberals Block Graves Bill to End Border Crisis", "2021-09-21", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Sam Graves", "G000546", "graves.house.gov", "graves", "https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, liberals blocked taking up the Border Security for America Act of 2021, which Congressman Graves helped introduce in July. Their obstruction comes as America is facing an unprecedented crisis at our southern border where more than 1.2 million people have illegally crossed into the United States this year.\n\n\u201cThe crisis at our Southern border has reached a breaking point and Speaker Pelosi\u2019s downright refusal to end this crisis is unconscionable,\u201d said Graves. \u201cWe need to be supporting our Border Patrol officers, giving them more tools to do their jobs, and finishing the wall. That\u2019s the only way we can end this crisis.\u201d\n\nThe Border Security for America Act of 2021:\n\nSupports Federal Law Enforcement Officers Tasked with Security Our Border\n\nDirects the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure all personnel who serve on the frontlines of the border are equipped with proper communication devices to maximize the safety of DHS officers and agents\n\nDirects DHS to hire and train additional Border Patrol Agents, CBP Officers, K-9 units and handlers, tunnel detection officers, and agriculture specialists and to maintain a strong active-duty presence at all ports of entry\n\nEnhances Border Security Technology\n\nDirects DHS to deploy the most practical and effective technology available along the international borders such as Advanced Unattended Surveillance Sensors and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles\n\nRequires DHS to assess technology needs, identify capability gaps, and analyze security risks at all ports of entry and submit to Congress a strategic five-year technology investment plan\n\nFinishes the Wall\n\nDirects the DHS Secretary to resume all activities related to the construction of the border barrier system. This includes constructing a barrier wall system along the southern border, expending all border wall funds as appropriated by Congress, and honoring all agreements executed in writing between DHS and private citizens, State, local, and Tribal governments, and other stakeholders\n\nYou can see the full text of the Border Security for America Act of 2021.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://graves.house.gov/media/press-releases/liberals-block-graves-bill-end-border-crisis"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6742469742894173, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}