Rep Gabrille Giffords' office welcomes legislation honoring border patrol agent Brian Terry

U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS’ OFFICE WELCOMES LEGISLATION HONORING BORDER PATROL AGENT BRIAN TERRY


Border Patrol station in Naco would be named for agent killed protecting Southern Arizonans
WASHINGTON – The office of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today welcomed legislation that would name the Border Patrol station in Naco after fallen Agent Brian Terry.

“Brian Terry died protecting the men and women of Southern Arizona,” said Pia Carusone, chief of staff to Congresswoman Giffords. “Naming the Border Patrol station in Naco after him is a fitting tribute to someone who paid the ultimate price in the service of his country.”

Giffords office worked closely with Rep. Darrell Issa of California to draft the Brian A. Terry Memorial Act. The bill was introduced late Wednesday and already has 52 Republican and Democratic cosponsors.

“Our nation’s Border Patrol agents have a distinguished history of working to protect our borders,” said Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. “Agent Terry, who served our nation through his military service and his career with the Border Patrol, gave his life defending this country. Naming the station in his honor recognizes his sacrifice, service and heroism.”

Agent Terry was shot and killed last December while on patrol north of the U.S.-Mexico border near Rio Rico, Ariz., during an armed confrontation with suspected criminals. Prior to joining the U.S. Border Patrol, Agent Terry served in the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a police officer in Michigan.

At the time of his murder, Giffords called the criminal act “a stark reminder that our borders are not yet secure.”

“Congresswoman Giffords has led the fight for increased border security” said Carusone. “The congresswoman understands that the men and women who live on the most porous section of the border in the country have for too long endured the extraordinary public safety threats caused by smugglers of illegal drugs and immigrants. It was in the pursuit of those smugglers that Agent Terry sacrificed his life.”

Agent Terry is among 70 U.S. Border Patrol agents who have been killed over the past half century while protecting our nation. The station that would be named after him, located at 2136 S. Naco Highway, is only the second border patrol station to be named for a fallen agent. The Border Patrol’s Murrieta, Calif., station is named in honor of Agents Theodore L. Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak, two agents killed on duty in 1967.

The principal cosponsor of the Brian A. Terry Memorial Act is Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

http://giffords.house.gov/2011/07/us-rep-gabrielle-giffords-office-welcomes-legislation-honoring-border-patrol-agent-brian-terry.shtml

Of course the gun lovers love Issa, so they must be so conflicted.