Jake Ellzey: “Once is more than enough for us, but I am sure that it was a well-earned victory. I appreciate having my friend, Mr.…”

“Once is more than enough for us, but I am sure that it was a well-earned victory. I appreciate having my friend, Mr. Palazzo, give me this time today. Today, I come before the House of Representatives to honor and recognize those who have chosen to serve our country as members of their National Guard and those enlisted in military Reserve units. The National Guard's mission began on December 13, 1636, when the Massachusetts Bay Colony organized three militia regiments to defend its people. Since that day, they have been continuing their mission of always ready and always there. In 1775, during the American Revolution, they were there. In 1918, during World War I, they were there. In 1941, during World War II, they were there. Of course, on September 11, 2001, they were there. They are here today. Right now, there are over 6,500 Texas National Guard members stationed on our southern border. Why are they there? To protect us, as always. They are there to defend every man, woman, and child in this country. We should not have to rely on these brave men and women to secure our border as National Guardsmen, but we do, and they do. They are there to stop the cartels from trafficking drugs that are killing our young people by the hundreds of thousands--105,000 last year dead from fentanyl. They are there to save the women and children who are being brought into this country for the purposes of the sex trade, modern-day slavery.…”