Washington ( CNN ) -- President Barack Obama signed a bill Friday that provides $ 600 million in emergency funding to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border . A day earlier , two senators -- Democrats Charles Schumer of New York and Ben Cardin of Maryland -- returned from their August recess to give the chamber 's approval for the bill . The House of Representatives had already approved the measure . In the Senate , the bill passed by unanimous consent -- a parliamentary term for a voice vote that does n't require the return of the entire Senate chamber . GOP leaders had agreed to the maneuver . Among other things , the bill provides for roughly 1,500 new law enforcement agents , new unmanned aerial vehicles , new forwarding operating bases and $ 14 million in new communications equipment . The measure has attracted strong Democratic and Republican support . Obama praised the plan after the Senate passed it , saying that congressional passage `` answers my call to bolster the essential work of federal law enforcement officials and improve their ability to partner with state , local and tribal law enforcement . '' Obama argued that the new law would facilitate cooperation along the border between the U.S. and Mexican governments , and asserted that it would make `` an important difference '' in the push for comprehensive immigration reform . Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters Friday that the measure would have a substantial impact in terms of reducing the `` trafficking of people , drugs , currency and weapons . '' She also fired back at Republican critics of the White House 's border control efforts , declaring that `` the administration had already devoted more resources to the southwest border than at any point in American history . '' The bill is funded in part by imposing higher fees on personnel companies that bring foreign workers into the United States .
NEW : Napolitano says more is being devoted to the southwest border than ever before . The measure draws strong Democratic and Republican support . The bill includes funds for extra border agents and aerial vehicles . It is partially funded by imposing fees on companies that bring in foreign workers .