Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 31, a bipartisan plan to fund the Department of Homeland Security and the remaining appropriations bills for fiscal year 2019. Earlier this month, I had an opportunity to travel to the southern border to see firsthand the situation we face and hear from experts on the ground about the best way to address the crisis there. The President is correct; this is a crisis that must be addressed, both for the safety and security of the American people and for the well-being of those who are coming here. We have a responsibility to come together and support what experts on the border say they need to address the security and humanitarian crisis. While this bill falls short of what I would like to see, it will provide our Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents the tools necessary to continue combating the threat we face. In particular, the bill provides $1.375 billion for 55 new miles of wall or physical barriers, as well as additional technology to combat human and drug trafficking. It is a good downpayment that will allow us to build new barriers in the areas that the Border Patrol says it is needed most. The bill also supports Immigration and Customs Enforcement priorities by funding detention beds at a higher level than the amount enacted last year. This will allow agents the flexibility to address surges in illegal immigration and apprehensions.…”