Renzi Comments on Napolitano's Decision to Veto National Guard for Border

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Rick Renzi (AZ-1) released the following statement on March 8, 2006 after Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano's decision to veto more National Guard troops along the border. "Governor Napolitano has made passing the buck a political art form, consistently talking tough but taking little action and blaming the federal government. Yet when the Legislature takes action requiring the Governor to take a stand, she veto's their legislation. This might work for politicians, but not for true leaders." Congressman Renzi is the architect of a new border security strategy that passed the House last December called the "Red Zone Defense." Renzi's "Red Zone Defense" is a comprehensive, aggressive and proactive border strategy which proposes to use state-of-the-art technology to track immigrants and other potential threats. The "Red Zone Defense" will provide the financial resources and command framework necessary to implement the use of more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), drones, ground and tower sensors, aerostat balloons, and a wide range of other collection technologies and intelligence methods already in use by other U.S. government agencies and departments. Renzi will be introducing the second part of the "Red Zone Defense" this spring, which calls for State Border Guard Units. Renzi's measure will allow states like Arizona to supplement federal border enforcement with federally financed border guard units made up of federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials. The State Border Guard Units are designed to respond more quickly to border issues and will supplement the federal Border Patrol.