Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I know you can't believe it, but there is one left. Like I said, we are equal opportunity here. We are going to take a look at all of them. This amendment would halve the funding of the Southwest Border Regional Commission. This commission, which only had its first chairman confirmed in 2022 and was funded only starting in fiscal year 2021, funds projects in the southern border regions of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. Incidentally, the first chairman was previously the director of economic development and special initiatives for Senator Heinrich, which continues this theme of political connection to the chairmen of these regional commissions. I don't know if everyone is getting that, but I bet those not appointed to the regional commission who live in those States get it. Look, I know folks on the other side of the aisle care about the border. Well, I hope they do. I know our side sure does. However, the answer to solving border problems is to actually enforce our Nation's immigration laws, not to give $5 million to a commission that has not published a strategic plan and does not even appear to have a website. We are going to give $5 million to them to fix the border. We can't even fix it at the Federal level. Well, we can, but we refuse to. The commission received $250,000 in FY21 but is now being funded at $5 million in this bill for FY24. For what results?…”