Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise to present the House with a bill that sustains our critical border security and enforcement operations within the Department of Homeland Security. Right now, at this very moment, there are brave men and women patrolling our borders, manning our ports of entry, and conducting border enforcement, drug interdiction and investigative missions, but they are not being paid. Right now, at this very moment, border security and enforcement operations are being conducted but with minimal essential personnel. Right now, at this very moment, the National Targeting Center, at which Customs and Border Protection officers check traveler watch lists and ensure that dangerous criminals and cargo never reach American soil, is operating, but its personnel are not being paid. Right now, at this very moment, the E-Verify system is not operating, making it impossible for employers to check the lawful immigration status of potential employees. So this bill before us provides for continuing appropriations to ensure that frontline agents along our borders receive their pay and that certain components of DHS can carry out their border security and enforcement missions at full strength. Let me remind my colleagues that our border is not secure.…”