On the recordMay 18, 2021
Right now, we are facing a critical question for our country. It is a question about whether our country wants to be first or last. A lot has been made, obviously, of the former President's agenda, which he referred to as ``America First.'' I think, unfortunately, we are sitting here right now, and our country is now too often looking at America last. There are a number of issues that are facing the constituents that I represent, but I believe this is true for people all across the country. I have spoken many times here on this floor about this. In Texas, our border is under siege. In Texas, it is a very real impact on our life, our communities. I share that with my colleagues all across the country, all 50 States represented here. It is very real in Texas, but it is very real in our country about the impact of the broken border. It is very real right now with people who run small businesses and need to hire people and they can't because we are paying people more not to work than to work. It is very real when people are going to buy gas at the pump, and it is well over $3 a gallon. It is very real when you try to buy a house, and lumber is up 470 percent. It is very real when you want to go get the healthcare of your choice and you can't. It is very real when you turn on the TV, and you watch what was Middle East peace now turning into chaos as our friends in Israel are being attacked. There are consequences to our choices in elections.…
