Steve Lynch: “As a member of the Committee on National Security, I rise to remind the House Republican leadership that actions speak…”

“As a member of the Committee on National Security, I rise to remind the House Republican leadership that actions speak louder than words when it comes to national security and America's defense of democracy and human rights worldwide. In reference to the current migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, Speaker Johnson has repeatedly stated that ``our national security begins at our border.'' He has indicated that border policy would be the Republican hill to die on. He even insisted that the House would not act on a foreign aid package unless it included substantive provisions to enhance border security, his ``top priority.'' However, the actions taken by the House Republican leadership do not live up to those words. Three weeks ago, a bipartisan coalition in the U.S. Senate negotiated a national security agreement that proposed the most significant reforms in decades, introducing new emergency border authorities, including granting the President the ability to close the border under certain circumstances, anti-fentanyl and anti-human trafficking provisions, and resources to enhance security at the southern border. President Biden indicated a willingness to sign the compromise agreement, when passed. Instead, at the direction of former President Trump, Speaker Johnson declared the bill dead on arrival in the House before he even received the final text. Mr.…”