Tom Rice: “Opioids and illegal immigration are two cancers of a porous southern border, and my constituents have had enough.…”

“Opioids and illegal immigration are two cancers of a porous southern border, and my constituents have had enough. Illegal immigration holds down wages and diminishes our middle class. The Democrats say they are for border security; they just don't want to pay for it--empty words. It is funny, Mr. Schumer voted for a border wall in 2006, but he is against it now. Why? Because our President wants it? Empty words. In 2017, 150 people in my district in 2017 were killed by opioid overdoses. My law enforcement agencies tell me that 85 percent of those drugs come across our porous southern border. You say you are for border security, but you don't want to pay for it--empty words, playing politics. There were 150 people killed in my district. They are in your districts, too. It is a cancer. It doesn't just affect my district. It is across this entire country. You say you are for border security, and you won't take any action to stop it. Mr. Speaker, it has gone on long enough. Illegal immigration holds down wages, stretches our social safety net, holds down our middle class. The opioids kill people across our country. It is a cancer and it is growing. It is not even leveling off. It is growing, killing people in my district and yours, too. Empty words, shame on you.”