Bruce Poliquin

Mr. Speaker, I don't quite understand what the other side is saying today, talking about politics and being irresponsible and not compassionate. Are you kidding me?

Here in the House of Representatives and in the Senate we take an oath to support and defend our Constitution. That means keeping our families safe. There is no more important responsibility, nothing more important than keeping our families safe. That means rebuilding our military, and, yes, it also means securing our borders and knowing who is entering our country.

I don't know why it is so hard to make a distinction between what is legal and what is illegal entry. I come from Maine. We have a 600-mile border with Canada. They are great neighbors. But I feel for the people down in the southwest part of our country. It is common sense to secure our borders, know who is entering our country.

I will tell you, my heart goes out to these folks who have made their way from Central America to the other side of the border fence with Texas, in Mexico, wanting to come in here. But we don't know who they are, beyond the fact that we do know, according to Homeland Security, there are 600 folks who have criminal backgrounds.

These folks have been offered asylum and work permits by the country of Mexico--every single one of them--and they have refused. Now they want to enter our country. Fine, but they have got to do it legally.

In rural Maine, we have been hard-hit by the opioid epidemic. There is nothing more difficult than this issue in rural America. Eighty percent of this terrible, cheap heroin--deadly heroin--which is a substitute for the opioid pills comes over that southwest border.

The House should pass this bill and secure our borders. It is common sense. The best Christmas gift for America is securing our borders, and I support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, during this joyful time of year, I would like to give thanks for the improving health of my great State of Maine.

Because we have cut taxes and regulations, our small businesses are growing and hiring more workers and paying them more. Maine's 2.7 percent unemployment is the lowest rate in 50 years.

We are rebuilding our military to keep our families safe, while supporting 6,000 shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works.

We have passed legislation that guts online human trafficking, which protects our daughters and our sons.

We have made the biggest financial commitment ever to combat the opioid epidemic, giving thousands of struggling Mainers hope for recovery and better lives.

Child poverty in Maine is dropping, while education is closer to home, where it belongs.

We have strengthened Social Security and Medicare so our seniors have more peace of mind.

Our veterans, our beloved veterans, are now able to receive their healthcare closer to home, and our small hospitals that provide those services must get paid on time; otherwise, interest accrues on the outstanding bills.

And Maine's pristine natural environment is living up to our brand: Vacationland. The way life should be.

Mr. Speaker, Maine families are doing better and better, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to help.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all, and may God always bless the United States of America and our great State of Maine.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Garrett for the opportunity to address the House.

Mr. Speaker, it is the responsibility of the United States House of Representatives, this body, and also the United States Senate, to protect our families. There is nothing more important as dictated by the United States Constitution, than to protect our families.

Mr. Speaker, we have one heck of a problem on our southwest border with Mexico: in California, New Mexico, and Arizona. We have a very dangerous and very unhealthy situation just on the other side of the fence, in particular now, with Mexico. I am asking the President tonight, if he is watching, to please, publicly ask the House Republicans, while we are still in the majority, please ask us to pass a real strong border security and immigration bill.

We did this several months ago. Goodlatte-McCaul One, as they called it, got 193 votes. It has everything that the President wanted, his four pillars and a heck of a lot more. Why in the world do we want to negotiate for peanuts when we can have the whole ball of wax?

Goodlatte-McCaul One, has $25 billion, Mr. Trump, $25 billion for border security, including the wall where necessary; $25 billion--not $5 billion--$25 billion over 5 years. It ends the visa lottery. It reins in chain migration, and it reforms the asylum process.

It is more than the President wants. This will happen, Mr. Speaker, only if the President of the United States publicly asks House Republicans to pass this bill or something really close to it.

The votes are there. Over the past 2 weeks, I have talked to every single member of the Republican Conference, 235 Members of the House. I have spoken to every single one, except for about five or six. We have the votes to do this. It is not too late, but it is getting late.

After the Democrats take control of this body, they have told us what they will bring or try to bring to the President's desk. It will not be what the President wants. It will not be what America wants.

It will be some form of open border, sanctuary cities, and amnesty. There is no better deal. There is no longer an opportunity to hold out for a better deal. We have the votes to pass Goodlatte-McCaul One or something real close to it.

But I ask the President, he must publicly ask the House to do it. That will give enough of our Members the support they need to vote for it, and it will cause leadership to act.

Again, why would we want to negotiate for peanuts when we can get the

whole ball of wax? I appreciate and I thank Mr. Garrett very much for yielding to me.