On the recordFebruary 20, 2025
to my colleagues, it has been a very long day. To the Budget Committee staff, Nick and your team, thank you very much. Through this process, I have gotten to know Senator Merkley better. It has been a pleasure. We are one step closer to fixing a problem that all Americans want us to fix, I think. The man who murdered Laken Riley was released from detention because we had no bed space. That should never happen again. There is $175 billion in this bill to make sure we have enough bed space; we complete, finish the wall, and kick gang members and other criminals out of the country; $150 billion for a military that has been worn out--they need the money; and $20 billion for the mighty, mighty Coast Guard. We are one step closer to fulfilling the promise Republicans made to make you safer. I hope we can get one big, beautiful bill in the House, but we need to act on border security and national security now. We are running out of time. Thank you all. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.
