The Hill News

Arizona Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords denounced the Senate Friday for removing a House-approved border security appropriation from its version of the wartime supplemental bill. 

“The drug cartels have become more brazen than ever, and it is commonplace to see heavily-armed drug runners coming across ranch land and into the communities of Southern Arizona,” she said in a statement. “Arizonans repeatedly have said that they want stronger border security, and senators yesterday turned their backs on them.” 

The $701 million appropriation would have paid for more law enforcement, surveillance technology and assistance to local agencies. 

In addition to the border security provision endorsed by Giffords, the Senate rejected more than $20 billion for education spending and other domestic programs, approving a bill Thursday night that is limited to war funding, foreign aid, veterans’ benefits and a FEMA disaster relief provision.

“While I would have preferred that the Senate take up and pass H.R. 4899 as further amended by the House,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), “an amendment that addressed several additional critical needs, I understand that we were not going to get 60 votes for that to happen.” 

Giffords, who represents the Tucson area, had also tweeted:

More Washington gridlock: Senate stripped border security funding from the supplemental last night. I’m outraged.”

â€"This post was updated at 3:45 pm.