I thank Representative Escobar for not only yielding her time but also for welcoming me and many others to her community just a few days ago. Last week, I had the opportunity to visit our southern border by way of El Paso. This was my second time to the border. Very similar to the op-ed that I published in Newsweek earlier today, I share a little bit of my reaction to this very important and eye-opening congressional delegation that I was able to participate in. If you are a Pennsylvanian like I am, you know that we just observed Groundhog Day, and Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow, so we can all expect an early spring. At our country's southwest border, it feels like every day is Groundhog Day. Like so many Americans, I am a combination of angry and frustrated and heartbroken by what continues to happen there day after day and year after year and decade after decade. We know that our immigration policies have to align with the shared values of our country. We are a country that was built primarily by immigrants, and we must welcome new arrivals compassionately while also protecting and securing our safety and our economy. My community is, indeed, thousands of miles away from the southern border, in the suburbs of Philadelphia. We face unique challenges every day regarding immigration, but what is not unique about my community, indeed about every community, is that we have felt the impact in some way of our fractured and broken immigration system.…
On the recordFebruary 5, 2024
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The gentlewoman is very welcome. It is my privilege. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Pennsylvania has 28 minutes remaining.





