Border protection is important

The Homeland Security Bill that has recently been proposed by Rep. Tom Reynolds and Homeland Security Committee Chair Peter King will allow the government to better protect our borders.

Reynolds has received unwarranted criticisms for voting against a one-time increase in funding for Homeland Security. In actuality, this one-time increase would not have done much to benefit Western New York since the current system of distributing funds is flawed. Reynolds supports a plan that will distribute funding based on the risk an area faces, more permanently increasing Homeland Security funds for securing the border in the Buffalo Niagara region.

This bill is in no way a mere symbolic gesture. Even if it does not make it to the floor this session, this bill will allow for areas such as Buffalo-Niagara to receive needed security funds for years to come, rather than just throwing a one-time addition the current Homeland Security budget, where the funds will continue to be unwisely distributed throughout the country.

Border security is very important to this area, and Tom Reynolds continues to understand this. The work he has done on this bill shows his continued efforts to do what is best for our community and the country.

Lauren Helowicz

Clarence