H. Res. 498 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
June 9, 2009. 
Whereas in the early 20th century, control of the border was 
sporadic and piecemeal, and included mounted guards, 
Texas Rangers, and military troops; 
Whereas Supervising Inspector Frank W. Berkshire wrote to 
the Commissioner-General of Immigration in 1918, ‘‘If 
the services of men now being drafted cannot be spared 
for this work, it may be that the various departments vi-
tally interested would give favorable consideration to the 
formation of an independent organization, composed of 
men with out the draft age. The assertion is ventured 
that such an organization, properly equipped and trained, 
made up of seasoned men, would guard the border more 
effectively against all forms of lawlessness than a body of 
soldiers of several times the same number * * *’’; 
Whereas the prohibition of alcohol and numerical limits 
placed on immigration to the United States by the Immi-
gration Acts of 1921 and 1924 further exposed our in-
ability to control our borders; 
Whereas in response to this urgent need the Labor Appro-
priations Act of 1924 officially established the U.S. Bor-
der Patrol with an initial force of 450 officers to help de-
fend our borders;
•HRES 498 EH 
Whereas over the past 85 years the border patrol has under-
gone enormous changes, but their primary mission has 
remained the same, to detect and prevent the illegal entry 
of persons into the United States; 
Whereas since 1998, the Border Patrol has seized more than 
15,567,100 pounds of marijuana and more than 189,769 
pounds of cocaine nationwide; 
Whereas the border patrol is on the front line of the U.S. war 
on drugs, having seized more than 14,241 pounds of co-
caine and more than 1,800,000 pounds of marijuana in 
fiscal year 2007; 
Whereas in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001, 
the border patrol has taken on a new mission as part of 
the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, with 
the priority mission of preventing terrorists and terrorist 
weapons from entering the United States; 
Whereas the U.S. Border Patrol today is our Nation’s first 
line of defense against many threats, patrolling 8,000 
miles of international borders with Mexico and Canada 
and the coastal waters around Florida and Puerto Rico; 
Whereas the mission of the agency says, ‘‘We are the guard-
ians of our Nation’s borders. We are America’s fronting. 
We safeguard the American homeland at and beyond our 
borders. We protect the American public against terror-
ists and the instrument of terror. We steadfastly enforce 
the laws of the United States while fostering our Nation’s 
economic security through lawful international trade and 
travel. We serve the American public with vigilance, in-
tegrity and professionalism.’’;
•HRES 498 EH 
Whereas the Border Patrol has adopted a clear strategic goal, 
to establish and maintain operational control of the bor-
der of the United States; 
Whereas this strategy consists of five main objectives, estab-
lishing substantial probability of apprehending terrorists 
and their weapons as they attempt to enter illegally be-
tween the ports of entry, deterring illegal entries through 
improved enforcement, detecting, apprehending, and de-
terring smugglers of humans, drugs, and other contra-
band, leveraging ‘‘Smart Border’’ technology to multiply 
the effect of enforcement personnel, and reducing crime 
in border communities and consequently improving qual-
ity of life and economic vitality of targeted areas; 
Whereas today over 18,800 agents risk their lives in pursuit 
of these objectives; 
Whereas the Border Patrol recognizes 104 official line of 
duty deaths in service to their country; 
Whereas the U.S. Border Patrol has spent past 85 years 
keeping this country safe from threats like terrorists, il-
licit drugs, weapons, and criminals; 
Whereas the Border Patrol Inspectors of the past and the 
Border Patrol Agents of today perform their duties on 
foot, in automobiles, by horse, and in boats; 
Whereas today the Border Patrol uses state of the art tech-
nologies to aid in the performance of their duties; infra-
red cameras, remote video surveillance, unattended un-
derground sensors, and ground radar support their Na-
tional Strategy; 
Whereas they use canine teams to detect both humans and 
narcotics at immigration checkpoints as well as in daily 
operations;
•HRES 498 EH 
Whereas their Special Response Teams and Tactical Unit are 
specially trained for domestic and international emer-
gencies and they have Search, Trauma, and Rescue 
teams, which provide humanitarian and rescue capabili-
ties, performing countless rescues every year; and 
Whereas the Border Patrol is also supported in their mission 
with air and marine assets and personnel from C.P. Air 
and Marine: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses its support for the Border Patrol’s 
goals and objectives; 
(2) expresses its gratitude to the U.S. Border Pa-
trol for its commitment to protecting the United States; 
and 
(3) congratulates the Border Patrol and its exem-
plary workforce on 85 years of service to the United 
States. 
Attest: 
Clerk.