Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) argued in favor of his Federal Lands Amplified Security for the Homeland (FLASH) Act in a recent legislative hearing, saying, "This is a game changer for many areas, even when our [Customs and Border Protection] agents and officers are empowered to do their enforcement duties."
Rep. Ciscomani began by saying that the bill was necessary as "passing legislation and bills is our job," adding, "We have to prevent any future administration like the Biden-Harris Administration to be able to shelter in this disastrous situation once again."
Moreover, he added that his constituents speak with him daily about the issues the FLASH Act seeks to solve.
As a result, as we previously covered, Rep. Ciscomani's FLASH Act authorizes funding for the construction of navigable roads along the border, allows states such as Arizona to place temporary barriers on federal land, and requires federal managers to address pollution along the border harming the environment.
"This is about the environment," the Arizona Congressman continued, "Federal lands comprise an estimated 693 miles, or 35% of the southern border, many of which are in Arizona. This bill proposes comprehensive solutions for public safety issues and environmental destruction impacting federal lands along the border."
Ciscomani described how piles of garbage and camps set up by smugglers were "popping up" in the Tucson sector, and thus, "this bill would solve that problem by requiring land managers to reduce the trash."
Furthermore, the Arizona Congressman said that roads along federal borderlands would be a significant boon for Border Patrol, making the FLASH Act "a game changer for many areas, even when our CBP agents and officers are empowered to do their enforcement duties as they are now."
"We must change our laws to ensure that burdensome regulations do not stand in the way of agents and public safety. Federal lands need to be protected from environmental degradation, and their borders need to be secured. Those go hand in hand. The fact is, we can do both, and I believe this bill is a huge step in that direction," Ciscomani concluded.
