Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4467) to direct the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security to assess contracts for covered services performed by contractor personnel along the United States land border with Mexico, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4467.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4467. As we are all aware, the volume of migrant encounters along the U.S.-Mexico border has increased exponentially in the past few years. As such, it has been necessary for the Department of Homeland Security to secure goods and services from contractors to care for migrants taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These contracts have enabled our dedicated Border Patrol agents and CBP officers to remain focused on their primary mission of securing our borders. Unfortunately, in the past, DHS has had issues with respect to awarding such contracts.

H.R. 4467, the DHS Border Services Contracts Review Act, directs DHS to assess active contracts for covered services performed by contractor personnel along the U.S. land border with Mexico and submit to Congress a report with recommendations and strategies to improve the procurement and delivery of services through such contracts.

I thank Congressman Brecheen for his work on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 4467, a very important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Brecheen), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4467, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6174) to improve the biodetection functions of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6174.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6174. The Department of Homeland Security established the BioWatch program to collect and test air samples for biological agents likely to be used in a bioterrorism attack. However, there have been ample criticisms and questions about the effectiveness of the BioWatch program.

As such, in 2019, DHS launched a new acquisition program to move into the next generation of detection of biothreats and to replace the BioWatch program with new and more reliable technology.

However, DHS has not used all the resources at its disposal, including the national laboratories housed within the Department of Energy.

H.R. 6174, the DHS Biodetection Improvement Act, would ensure that DHS is doing everything it can to improve biodetection research and development, including requiring DHS to explain how it plans to utilize the expertise of the Department of Energy national labs.

I thank Congressman Strong for his work on this bill, and I hope all Members will support this legislation today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6174, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Strong), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6174, and I appreciate and thank Mr. Strong for his hard work on this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 996, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 863) impeaching Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 863.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to present two Articles of Impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Article I charges him with willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law, and Article II charges him with breach of public trust.

Since Secretary Mayorkas took office, we have all watched the unprecedented crisis at our borders unfold. We have seen the chaos.

Under Secretary Mayorkas' watch, CBP has reported more than 8.5 million encounters at our borders, including more than 7 million apprehensions at the southwest border. Even more terrifying is the approximate 1.8 million known got-aways that Border Patrol agents detect but are unable to apprehend.

Millions of those inadmissible aliens who are encountered are eventually released into our communities. This has never happened before in the history of the country, and it doesn't happen by accident.

For nearly a year, the House Committee on Homeland Security conducted a thorough, fair, and comprehensive investigation into the causes, costs, and consequences of the border crisis. Our Members saw firsthand numerous parts of the southwest border, spent time with law enforcement officers on the front lines, and spoke with real Americans about how the crisis is affecting them.

We also conducted a field hearing and roundtable on the border that our Democrat colleagues refused to attend, burying their heads in the sand as if there wasn't a crisis. We published seven total reports, totaling nearly 400 pages, to which Democrats never had a single substantive response.

Instead, their only response was to simply shout MAGA louder and louder, as if that is a meaningful response to the millions of Americans suffering from this crisis.

We held many hearings at the subcommittee and full committee level, and we heard from a variety of witnesses, including former senior DHS enforcement officials, State attorneys general, and victims who have been impacted by Secretary Mayorkas' border crisis. Democrats consistently claimed these hearings were a waste of time. Tell that to the families of the 150,000 Americans who died from fentanyl poisoning in 2021 and 2022 alone.

Throughout this investigation and subsequent impeachment proceedings, we found that Secretary Mayorkas' willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law and his breach of public trust are responsible for this historic crisis. However, for almost a year, Democrats have turned a blind eye to the victims of the border crisis while berating us for spending what they believed was too much time investigating Secretary Mayorkas' lawless handling of our sovereign borders.

Keep that in mind when you hear them claim now this impeachment is somehow rushed. The truth is this process has been painstakingly thorough. Unlike House Democrats, we take the use of impeachment extremely seriously.

While I do not wish to be standing here presenting these Articles of Impeachment today, we have exhausted all other options. Our oath to the Constitution now requires us to exercise this solemn duty.

Secretary Mayorkas has explicitly refused to comply with the law. His refusal to obey the law has led to the death of our fellow citizens, and he no longer deserves to keep his job.

What is unique here in the history of impeachments is that the Supreme Court, just this summer, denied the affected States judicial review on many of these issues, but with the understanding that the result of doing so could mean the impeachment of a Secretary.

In oral argument, Justice Kavanaugh explained how he understood the position of the Biden administration if judicial review was denied, saying: ``I think your position is, instead of judicial review, Congress has to resort to shutting down the government or impeachment or dramatic steps if . . . some administration comes in and says we're not going to enforce laws or at least not going to enforce the laws to the degree that Congress by law has said the laws should be enforced . . . `'

In response, the Biden administration's solicitor general agreed, saying: ``Well, I think that if those dramatic steps would be warranted, it would be in the face of a dramatic abdication of statutory responsibility by the executive.''

Today's Articles of Impeachment outline exactly that; a dramatic abdication of statutory responsibility by Secretary Mayorkas has occurred.

Of the Articles of Impeachment's 20 pages, 6 are solely dedicated to the laws Secretary Mayorkas has violated, while 4 more document his lies to Congress and the American people and the violation of his statutory duty to control and guard our borders.

We identify numerous unambiguous provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act he has refused to enforce, laws requiring him to detain inadmissible aliens and limit his ability to grant parole. We also highlight how programs he has created, such as various mass parole programs, are void of congressional authority.

Secretary Mayorkas is the very type of public official the Framers feared: someone who would cast aside the laws passed by a coequal branch of government and replace those with his own preferences, hurting his fellow Americans in the process.

He has directed the release of millions of inadmissible aliens into the country in violation of the INA, which requires them to be detained.

He has abused the statute limiting parole to be issued only on a case-by-case and temporary basis for very specific and limited reasons--instead overseeing more than 1.5 million paroles.

He has created new categorical parole programs in defiance of the statute to further his mass release agenda, and he has directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel not to detain all manner of illegal aliens, including criminal aliens. In his September 2021 enforcement guidance, the Secretary even directed that unlawful presence in the country was no longer sufficient grounds for removal and that criminal convictions alone were not enough to warrant ICE attention.

This is not about policy differences. We certainly object

to Secretary Mayorkas' policies, but this goes far deeper.

According to the Democrat-led committees that investigated

Iran-Contra: ``Government officials must observe the law,

even when they disagree with it,'' or when they think that,

``Congress is to blame for passing laws that run counter to

administration policy.''

Again, we are here because our oath and our duty compel us to be here. The actions and decisions of Secretary Mayorkas have left us with no other option than to proceed with Articles of Impeachment. That is why we must remove him from office. The time for accountability is now.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Greene).

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentlewoman from Georgia.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Brecheen).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lee).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Strong).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Bishop).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Crane).

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from Arizona.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger).

Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining on each side.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman).

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from Virginia.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Fallon).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Bentz).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Arizona.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa).

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains for each side.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Zinke).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell).

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I will address some of the, at a minimum, misinformation that has been provided by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. This notion that Republicans have somehow cut Border Patrol is absolutely false.

In fact, it has been the administration that has brought decreasing budget requests, for example, for ICE detention beds every single year, and we wound up giving them more than they asked for.

Our bill, H.R. 2, actually would provide 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, and the supplemental request by the President asks for approximately 1,400. You can't say we are resourcing less when we are actually providing numbers for more. That is just disinformation. It is false.

This notion that seizures are up, if you pour more water through a small pipe, there is more volume coming at the fence. They are going to seize more. I get that. However, tell me why the price for a hit of fentanyl on the street in Tennessee went from $95 a hit when this President took office to $28 a hit.

It is because of the supply and demand of fentanyl. It is the supply and demand curve. That is because it is pouring across our southern border. It is pouring across our southern border because the cartels are jamming folks through the crossing sites. The Border Patrol agents are having to move off the border to cover that, and we have a wide- open southern border.

We have shown this in our five-phases investigation, videos of camouflage-wearing, carpet-shoe-wearing people with backpacks full of drugs coming through the remote parts of the country or the border. To suggest that just because seizures are up somebody is doing their job, that is meaningless.

I want to make a point here, because several people have said, if we were concerned about border protection, we would bring up the Senate negotiated bill. Well, I thought the Senate had to pass it before we could bring it up. I haven't heard that the bill has even passed the Senate. Therefore, this accusation that we somehow aren't for Border Patrol because we haven't taken up this bill is false because it hasn't even passed the Senate yet.

I heard someone say Mr. Mayorkas has done his job. The last poll I saw indicated approximately 85 percent of Americans think the Secretary is failing, but, yes, keep singing that song.

Rushed? We have been at this for almost a year.

One gentleman said: No court has actually ruled that Mr. Mayorkas is breaking the law.

The Fifth Circuit court absolutely ruled it. Then the gentleman who mentioned that actually said that the Supreme Court overturned that.

No, they didn't. They decided they weren't going to decide. They said: We don't have standing here, or you don't have standing here, so their case technically wasn't even heard. They said: You don't have standing. Have a nice day.

To suggest that that was overturned, the Fifth Circuit court's ruling on the lawlessness of this Secretary, is just wrong. It is wrong.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Mississippi.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I think that most of my colleagues here and a lot of people back home certainly know that I had the unbelievable privilege to interview Saddam Hussein on the night of his capture.

As I was sitting there talking to Saddam Hussein, I asked him why he invaded Kuwait. He gave me all these

justifications about who owned which oil field. Then he held up the palm of his hand and he pointed to the palm of his hand and said: All human civilization is from the Tigress and Euphrates Rivers. Every person on the planet is an Iraqi, and I am the President of Iraq.

What Saddam Hussein was saying was he was the king of the world. The thought struck me: How does a person get there? Well, the old adage came to mind that absolute power corrupts absolutely. When you concentrate power into the hands of fewer and fewer people, you get tyranny every time. In this case, one man.

Our Founders were brilliant. They were following the philosophies of Montesquieu, and they decided they would divide power out; they would separate three branch of government. Then with the 10th Amendment, they would separate power between the Federal Government, the States, and the local governments. They did develop three equal and separate branches of government, with the legislative branch writing the laws and the executive branch executing the laws.

Interestingly enough, in the Iran-Contra hearing, the Democrats said in their report: You can't pick and choose which law you want to enforce. It is also fascinating that here we are and they say it is about policy. This is about a systemic, planned mechanism to undo the immigration laws passed before, just because the current Secretary doesn't think that is what they ought to be.

This Secretary is supposed to execute those laws, but he has chosen not to. It says, shall detain criminal felons, and he has directed his DHS employees not to do that, violating the laws passed by this body, telling this separate but equal branch of government: I don't care what you say or have passed as law. I don't care that you represent the voice of the American people. I am the guy who knows the best way to do it, and I am going to do it my way. That is the road to tyranny, that is power in one man's hands, and that is not what our Constitution says it is supposed to be.

He took an oath to that Constitution to defend that Constitution that says this branch writes, that branch executes. He has violated his oath of office. He has subverted the laws that this body has passed and, thus, basically said: I don't care about the Congress. That is unacceptable. Whether he were a Republican or a Democrat standing that way, I would be here today doing everything I could to remove him from office.

When I was 17, I took an oath to that Constitution for the first time and served for 24 years, willing to take a bullet for that Constitution and the people of this country. I will not stand idly by while he throws it in the garbage.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

As you have heard, the evidence against Secretary Mayorkas is compelling, but so too is the constitutional justification for impeachment. The constitutional history and the Framers' intent are clear. We, the people's Representatives, have no option but to exercise this duty when executive branch officials blatantly refuse to comply with the laws we have passed, threaten the separation of powers, imperil the constitutional order, and expose Americans to untold suffering and death.

This historical record is unambiguous. From Madison to Hamilton, the Framers uniformly believed that executive branch officials who fail to defend the Constitution and enforce the law should no longer hold office.

We know that Secretary Mayorkas has refused to comply with the law. We know that he lied to Congress and breached the public trust. We all witnessed the horrific consequences.

In closing, my question to my colleagues is this: If Secretary Mayorkas' brazen, blatant disregard for the laws we have passed is not enough to warrant action, why are we even here? What is the point of passing laws if we allow the executive branch to violate those laws with impunity?

Do we care so little for our constitutional role and responsibilities that we would allow an official of either party to openly defy laws passed by this House, the people's House? I truly hope not. That would be a dangerous precedent and a serious abdication of our duty.

Willfully violating the law to open America's borders to millions of unvetted migrants and breaching the public trust are grave offenses against our country, our Constitution, and our constituents. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us, on this solemn day, to fulfill our oaths to the Constitution and exercise the power to impeach.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize the retirement and storied career of LTC Walker Winfield Scott III.

LTC Scott was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and began his distinguished Army career in 1988. He recently retired after a highly distinguished career spanning more than 33 years and 17 combat tours as an infantryman and pilot with Army Special Operations Aviation (ARSOA) and numerous operational deployments, including Panama, Haiti, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. LTC Scott is a Master Army Aviator with over 3,000 flying hours in the UH-1, UH-60, MH-6, and MH-60 DAP.

LTC Scott attended Infantry basic and advanced individual training as well as Airborne School at Ft. Benning, GA. Initially assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Ft. Bragg, NC as a Mortar Gunner, LTC Scott excelled as a Soldier and was selected to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS) in 1990. After completing the Initial Entry Rotor Wing course in September 1991, LTC Scott was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division as an Assault Flight Lead, Night Vision Goggle Trainer, and Battalion Flight Operations Officer. Next, he served as a P-518 Corridor Unit Trainer and United Nations Military Armistice Commission Pilot in the Republic of Korea.

LTC Scott was selected to attend Officer Candidate School in 1998 and commissioned as a distinguished Military Graduate. Following his commission, he served as a Platoon Leader in the 82nd Airborne Division and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), commanded Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 160th SOAR and Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 160th SOAR. Additionally, he served 15 months as the Task Force Rotor Wing Commander for Special Operations Forces in Iraq and Commanded the 2nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. In addition to Command, LTC Scott has served with distinction in numerous staff and flight instructor positions. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal (3rd award), the Meritorious Service Medal (5th award), the Army Commendation Medal (10th award), Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge, Master Aviation Badge, Parachutist Combat Badge with Bronze Service Star, and the Honorable Order of St. Michael (Bronze) from the Army Aviation Association of America.

LTC Scott received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Methodist College in Organic Chemistry and Microbiology. He is a graduate of the Infantry Captains Career Course, Combined Arms and Service Staff School, Special Operations Training Course, Air Command and Staff College, Joint and Combined Warfighting School, and holds a Masters of Military Art and Science from Air University.

I proudly served alongside LTC Scott in the 160th SOAR and can personally attest to his devotion to duty and dedication to serving the American people. In 2003, as the flight surgeon for the 160th, I was on duty when LTC Scott's helicopter was involved in a near-fatal crash. By the grace of God, I was able to bring my friend LTC Scott back from the brink of death multiple times while we awaited an airlift to the hospital. I remain tremendously thankful I was there that day to serve my friend and brother in arms when he was in need.

LTC Scott retired in January 2022 after more than three decades of faithful service to this great Nation. He is blessed to have shared this journey with his wife Christie, their three daughters Ashley, Isabelle, and Caroline, son-in-law Dean, granddaughter Madison, and grandson Harrison.

On behalf of the United States Congress and the American people, I want to thank LTC Scott for his tireless service and selfless dedication to keeping our homeland safe. America is a better place because of his leadership and bravery for our highest ideals and values.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career and faithful service of Patrol Captain Donnie Dill, and to congratulate him on his retirement.

Born and raised in Stewart County, Tennessee, Donnie dedicated his career to serving his fellow Tennesseans and the public good. He started this mission in October 1990, when he joined the Clarksville Police Department (CPD). Over the course of four years, he faithfully enforced the law and stood on the frontlines, protecting citizens and the community at-large. After his tenure with CPD, he used the following year to serve Montgomery and Stewart Counties as a law enforcement officer and public servant.

Because of his outstanding service in law enforcement, Donnie was hired to serve on the 23rd Judicial District Drug Task Force. With jurisdiction over Stewart. Houston, Humphries, Cheatham, and Dickson Counties, including portions of Interstate-40--a known drug pipeline-- Donnie worked to disrupt, intercept, and remove dangerous substances. Donnie also served as a law enforcement officer for the City of Dover and Stewart County, his home.

In 2002, Donnie joined the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Police, a federal law enforcement agency responsible for protecting critical infrastructure, employees, and assets within the TVA system. TVA facilities provide power and critical services for millions of people across seven states, making them a prime target for criminal activity. While serving as a federal law enforcement officer, Donnie protected and preserved these assets and employees, helping the Tennessee Valley flourish.

From 2003 to 2007, Donnie also served in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service through the Department of the Interior. Tennessee is blessed with abundant natural resources, including bountiful lakes and rivers and beautiful landmarks, all needing careful maintenance and protection. Following his work for the Fish and Wildlife Service, Donnie joined the United States Forest Service, where he has served faithfully ever since. For his excellent service, he was promoted to Patrol Captain in 2021 for the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

Beyond his vast experience in law enforcement. Donnie excelled as a leader and mediator, winning over people from diverse backgrounds and opinions on forest management and enforcement. He frequently served as the go-between for various contentious issues and ensured that all sides were heard. Because of his deep roots in the community and his dedication to the public good, Donnie is a uniquely gifted public servant who used his gifts to serve others.

On behalf of the United States Congress, I thank Patrol Captain Donnie Dill for his exceptional public service, and I congratulate him on his well-earned retirement. I wish Donnie and his family the best in his future endeavors, and I hope he knows that his legacy will outlive his outstanding career.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lauren Noyes for her distinguished career and service in our Nation's Capital.

Lauren has dedicated her life to advancing good public policy and the betterment of those who serve on Capitol Hill.

A native of New Brunswick, New Jersey, Lauren grew up in Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Iowa, and Florida. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Wake Forest with a B.A. in English, Lauren moved to Washington, D.C. Like many congressional staffers, she started as a Staff Assistant in the Office of Rep. John Shadegg (AZ-4), where she was quickly promoted to Legislative Assistant. Then. in 1997, she joined the Office of Rep. Joe Pitts (PA-16), becoming his Legislative Director in 1998. During her time with Rep. Pitts, Lauren helped establish the Values Action Team (VAT).

One of the most meaningful aspects of her time on Capitol Hill was participating in Faith and Law--an organization founded in 1983 that encourages and equips Christian policymakers to more fully understand the Biblical worldview and its implication for their calling to public service.

In 2001, Lauren left Capitol Hill and continued her distinguished career at The Heritage Foundation, where she served in multiple roles until 2008. For the next nine years Lauren dedicated herself to raising her four children with her husband, Brad.

Lauren returned to Capitol Hill as Faith and Law's new Executive Director in 2017. Through her six years at its helm, Lauren has made an indelible mark on the organization and countless staffers in both the House and the Senate--and both Democrat and Republican. Lauren led Faith and Law into a new era, ushering the organization into a season of rapid growth. The programs she has built now inform and mentor those who work on Capitol Hill from interns to senior staff members.

From Friday Forums, regularly attended by nearly a hundred staffers, to reading groups and mentorship programs, Faith and Law's reputation as a source of guidance and community for Hill staffers continues to grow--and that is due in large part to Lauren's leadership. In 2021, Lauren launched the Capitol Hill Moms Group to encourage and equip working mothers.

Providing the opportunity for a community of congressional staffers and members from both sides of the aisle to meet regularly has been invaluable in these challenging times. Lauren's leadership has taken the 40-year organization to new heights--and her selfless devotion to building this community and mentoring staffers has shaped a generation of thoughtful staffers.

As Lauren leaves her role at Faith and Law to focus on her family--as mother to her children, Hudson, John, Sarah Grace, and Lucy, and wife to Brad--she leaves behind an incredible legacy that will continue to be felt in the Halls of Congress through the hundreds of lives she has impacted. On behalf of the United States Congress--and our many colleagues who can attest to Lauren's impact firsthand--it is my honor to recognize Lauren for her distinguished career on and around Capitol Hill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Patti Carroll for her extraordinary service and dedication to the people of Tennessee's Seventh Congressional District.

Patti has been a part of my congressional office since the beginning--and will soon depart after five years of service.

Prior to joining my office, she served ten years on Fairview's City Planning Commission, four years as a City Commissioner, and four years as the city's Mayor. In her years as Mayor, Patti set high goals for the City of Fairview--she exceeded them. Thanks to her leadership, Fairview has seen impressive growth. Additionally, she worked tirelessly with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to improve the city's roads--a direct benefit to her constituents.

Patti's passion to serve and her dedication to Tennessee values drove her entire career. Patti is a fierce defender of liberty, a fighter for limited government, and an advocate for fiscal responsibility. Upon joining my office, Patti continued this level of excellence in her new role. Among my duties representing Tennessee, being an advocate for Tennesseans within the federal government is of the highest priority. To this end, I cannot overemphasize my gratitude for Patti. My constituents have benefitted from her composure and grace countless times. It didn't matter if it was an evening, weekend, or required a long drive across the district, Patti was always willing to help.

Patti is known for her dedication, always ready to solve any problem in front of her. Not only is she dearly loved by the Williamson County community and beyond, but she has also been a vital part of my staff. In the long hours and heavy days, she was a friend to all.

When she walks into a room, she is like a magnet--everyone is drawn to her vivacity and kindness. As much as I wish I could spend all of my time in Tennessee, I simply cannot be in two places at once. But that is why it has been such a blessing to have someone I trust implicitly represent me at important events in Williamson County and beyond. Her work to streamline the application process for new ownership of the Historic Downtown Franklin Post Office was particularly rewarding. Five Points is both a historic landmark and provides a crucial service to the community of over 85,000 residents. Thanks to her hard work, the Post office now has a new operator and is ready to serve the Franklin community.

I often leaned on Patti and her husband, Kevin, for advice. Together, they are a powerhouse. Their accumulated wisdom, knowledge, and experience make them an invaluable resource. Their combined public service and dedication to the State of Tennessee allowed me and my office to provide the best service to Tennesseans possible. I often encouraged my team to create ``raving fans'' of constituents through our service to the 7th District. Patti did that. Over and over again, she went above and beyond for Tennesseans. She exemplifies servant leadership in every way.

At the core of Patti's service to our great state is a strong dedication to her faith and the Biblical injunction to love one another. And Patti has done just that. Her love for God and her neighbor is one of the first things I ever noticed about Patti, and it's what has made her an incredible friend and colleague. Her passion for helping others hasn't been limited to work. She is active in her community, her church, and is a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother. Her three children and grandson are the light of her life.

Because of her service, Tennessee is a better place--I say that without hesitation. My thanks to her for these contributions cannot be overstated. I know she will spread the same joy and excellence in every chapter of her life. On behalf of the United States Congress, Team Green, and a grateful constituency, I thank Patti Carroll for her distinguished service to Tennesseans.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I rise today in honor of the life and legacy of Allison Elizabeth Kennedy, a devoted mother, beloved wife, cherished daughter, and follower of Christ.

Allison is remembered by those who knew her best as a woman with a servant's heart; the first to volunteer, the first to help, the first to pick up the phone. Throughout her life, Allison graciously shared the love and joy obtained through a deep and abiding faith with those around her. No one who met her was ever surprised to find that she was a woman of faith; she exuded her love for God in all that she did.

Born in California and raised in Vancouver, Washington, Allison grew up around a large

extended family that instilled the values of selflessness, generosity, and integrity in her from a young age. Even as Allison grew older, she stayed deeply connected to her roots. Her devotion to family only came second to her devotion to God.

Allison's mind was as strong and capable as her heart. Growing up, she consistently excelled in her studies. Her success in cheerleading and high school mock trial reflected her competitive spirit and relentless commitment to excellence. Allison went on to graduate from Washington State University with distinction. Her academic journey did not end there. She later earned a master's in public policy from American University in Washington D.C. where she developed an appreciation for our nation's capital. It was also here that she found a worthy mission--serving the public through road safety advocacy.

Allison proved to be a determined policy advocate who labored to improve safety conditions for drivers and pedestrians across our great nation. Allison's career began when she was hired at the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety where she ultimately became Director of Government Relations, promoting safer transportation policies. Her efforts will live on through the policies she fought tirelessly for and that made it into landmark pieces of legislation like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Allison's service will continue to impact the lives of children, teen drivers, pedestrians. and motorists in America.

While in Washington D.C., Allison found new meaning and solace in her Roman Catholic faith. Allison became known for always being the first to volunteer or to welcome new faces into the Church. In particular, she enjoyed serving at the Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center, where she helped prepare young couples to embark on the blessing of marriage. Washington is also where Allison met her devoted husband, Brian. Allison and Brian were engaged in December 2014 and married in November 2015.

Allison was an unwavering support to Brian and a devoted mother to her two sons: Christopher and Callahan. After five years of trying to start a family, she and Brian were blessed with the gift of Christopher through adoption. In 2022, they were granted another blessing when Allison discovered she was pregnant with her second son. Callahan was born in January 2023. Throughout the years of waiting to live her dream of becoming a mother, Allison found strength and resolve from leaning on the Lord's perfect plan and timing. As scripture teaches us in 2 Peter 3:9, ``The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.'' Allison's final days on this side of heaven were spent joyfully caring for her two children alongside Brian.

Allison will be greatly missed by her loved ones. It is a privilege to recognize her life and to celebrate the blessings God granted her. Her memory and impact on her family, community, and country will live on for generations to come. She may be gone from this earth, but her legacy will live on, especially in the lives of her two beloved sons.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Foxx for the opportunity to speak about my vital piece of legislation.

I rise today as an avid hunter and fisherman and as someone who wants to see these timeless traditions and skills passed down to the next generation.

My bill, the Hunting Heritage and Education Act, will prohibit the Department of Education from withholding Federal funds from school archery programs, hunting safety courses, and culinary classes.

The Biden administration's misinterpretation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act unfairly targeted archery and shooting sports programs in K-12 schools. It didn't address fencing programs.

Democrats and Republicans agree, the Biden administration missed the target here in Congress by a long shot. In fact, the bill came out of committee unanimously. Under the Department of Education's current interpretation of the law, other school activities like fencing and the culinary arts would also be at risk eventually. This would be unacceptable.

For my family and those in my district, hunting and fishing are more than just hobbies. They are a way of life. The early mornings and long hours that I have spent hunting and fishing, first with my father and now with my son and son-in-law, are extremely important to me. I cherish these memories, and I know many families across the country feel the same way. I will tell you this: You can really get to know someone after spending a few hours in a duck blind with them.

Hunters and fishers are also the best conservationists. As Psalms 24:1 says: The Earth is the Lord's and all it contains, the world and those who live in it.

I believe we are all called to steward God's creation, and this is a part of what we teach our children when we take them hunting.

The truth is, being out in nature is good for kids. Education policies oriented toward K-12 schools should place a larger focus on getting kids out from behind screens and into the great outdoors. Our Nation is blessed with beautiful lands and waters, and we need more kids to put down the controller and take up the rod or a bow.

Despite the administration's flawed ruling, many are. Across the country, thousands of students participate in shooting sports and archery. In fact, 9,000 schools belong to the National Archery in the Schools Program, and many of these students go on to receive college scholarships. It would be cruel to take these opportunities away from these students.

I am glad to lead this charge, and I thank all those who are behind me, such as 24 State attorneys general, including my own attorney general from Tennessee, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, the Boone and Crockett Club, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the National Wildlife Federation, and the bipartisan members of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Let's get this done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the ministry of Dr. Frederick D. Tappan to Eureka Truevine Baptist Church and the Memphis community.

Dr. Tappan has served as the senior pastor of Eureka Truevine Baptist Church for 27 years, working toward their 50-year commitment to perform the work of God in service to His message. Tasked with the care of precious souls, each of them God's children, Dr. Tappan's ministry has been a blessing to all that he has served. Feeding both the souls and stomachs of the Memphis community through ``The Vine Loves Memphis'' Initiative, Dr. Tappan and his faithful wife, Regina, show each of us what it means to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Dr. Tappan has made the church's mission to be about Real Ministry, with a Real Message, for Real people. On the ground in Memphis, Eureka Truevine Baptist Church has planted two additional churches to meet the community's spiritual needs, to spread the Gospel, and to shine light into darkness. ``Call unto me,'' Jeremiah 33:3 says, ``and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.'' Through Dr. Tappan's partnership with my free healthcare clinic in Memphis, God has certainly worked great and mighty things in the community.

On behalf of the United States Congress, and joining Congressman Steve Cohen, I thank Dr. Tappan for his many years of faithful and dedicated service. May he continues to honor God, serve others, and bless our community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that further consideration of the veto message and the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 39, be postponed until the legislative day of May 24, 2023.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Command Sergeant Major Christopher J. Kitchens for his exceptional military service, commitment to our country, and remarkable achievements. He is an exemplary leader, a distinguished soldier, and a true patriot. It is my privilege to cement his legacy into the Congressional Record, and to celebrate his well-deserved retirement.

CSM Kitchens' story is a testimony of resolve and selfless service. Enlisting in the Army in 1999, he completed Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning and graduated as an 11C Infantry Mortarman. He was assigned to the 2/327th Infantry Regiment at Fort Campbell, serving as an assistant gunner, gunner, and Team Leader. He first deployed to Kosovo and served admirably in support of Operation Joint Guardian.

In April 2002, he reclassified his MOS and attended Advanced Individual Training at Fort Eustis. As a 67U Helicopter Repairer, he was stationed at Camp Humphries, Republic of Korea, where he served in the 47 Maintenance Platoon until September 2003. The following December, CSM Kitchens joined the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) (Airborne) after completing Green Platoon. He was assigned to the 2-160th SOAR (ABN) 47 Maintenance Platoon, servicing one of the most elite and fastest deployable night-time aviation forces in the world. As a Night Stalker, he led MH-47E Phase Inspections and, for his exceptional service, attention to detail, and leadership abilities, he was promoted to Squad Leader and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Going above and beyond the call of duty, CSM Kitchens volunteered to start up the 4th Battalion of the 160th SOAR (ABN) as a Technical Inspector at Fort Lewis. His work quickly distinguished himself, leading to his promotion to the Quality Control NCOIC in January 2008, as MH-47 Maintenance Platoon Sergeant in July 2009 for three years, and Battalion Maintenance Manager for nearly two years. In March 2014, he was laterally promoted to Charlie Company 4th Battalion First Sergeant, and one year later was selected as the Delta Company 2nd Battalion First Sergeant. His relentless pursuit of excellence led to his selection to attend the Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy in 2018 while serving as the USASOAC (ABN) Aviation Maintenance Support Office Sergeant Major.

In all his work, CSM Kitchens was a strong leader, a determined worker, and a trusted soldier. In June 2019, in recognition of his faithful and outstanding service, he became the 2nd Battalion, 160th SOAR (ABN) Command Sergeant Major, responsible for over 950 soldiers. As the Command Sergeant Major, CSM Kitchens completed the Joint Special Operations University Nominative Leader's SUMMIT Course, further honing his leadership skills. Two years after assuming command, he became the 16th Command Sergeant Major of the 160th SOAR (ABN). Like many Night Stalkers before him, he fulfilled the Night Stalker Creed's mission to safeguard the honor and prestige of the United States.

Beyond his military duties, CSM Kitchens is also a devoted husband to his wife, Laura, and loving father to their two children, Jacob and John Roy. He also served as a trusted mentor, advisor, and advocate for many soldiers, providing guidance and support. He truly understands what serving means, and he does it well.

CSM Kitchens' career of service is an exemplary model for all service members, veterans, and American citizens. Time and again, CSM Kitchens has proven faithful and diligent in his duties, earning greater and greater responsibilities. He stewarded these responsibilities with excellence, integrity, and consistency, and I am proud to represent him and his family in Congress. On behalf of the United States Congress, and as a fellow Night Stalker, I thank CSM Kitchens for his faithful and distinguished career to our great Nation and congratulate him on his retirement. Night Stalkers Don't Quit.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Nashville Fire Department's Rescue Task Force (RTF) for its quick and effective response during the Covenant School shooting. The RTF demonstrated bravery, selflessness, and poise during a senseless and violent tragedy.

This specialized force is composed of Nashville Fire Department Paramedics, Advanced EMTs, and Firefighters who are trained to work in tandem with law enforcement to enter a newly secured area to provide triage, emergent care, and to carry out patient extraction. These brave men and women expedited the medical care and transport for the individuals who were injured during the shooting. Where there was gunfire, these individuals ran towards the danger instead of away from it. Without a doubt, their bravery saved lives.

I continue to carry a heavy and grieving heart for my home state of Tennessee. No one should ever have to endure what The Covenant School and the Nashville community have gone through. As our home and the rest of the country come together to mourn this senseless loss of life, we remember the victims of this horrible attack.

Yet, even as we mourn the tragic losses of life--every one of them precious--we also praise the heroic efforts of our first responders. I am proud to commend all the first responders who were on the scene, and the medical professionals who treated the victims at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Tennesseans are strong and they take care of each other.

It is fitting that we honor these brave men and women by name: Paramedic Trevor Skiera and AEMT Chad Miller served on RTF-Medical; Captain Scott Burgess, Engineer Timothy Flowers, Firefighter Samuel Smith, and Firefighter Chad Malone served on RTF-Fire Operations; Engineer Justin Agnew, Firefighter Kayla Toney, Firefighter Garlon Russell, Engineer Cody Pomeroy, Firefighter Matthew Mangrum, Firefighter Joseph Mangrum, Firefighter David Travis, Firefighter Marsenio Rayford, Engineer William Brandt, Firefighter Gabriel King, and Firefighter Brett Yeager served on RTF-Extraction.

Though unspeakable grief still holds Nashville in its grasp, we are all grateful for the work of our first responders. On behalf of the United States Congress and all of Tennessee, I thank the Rescue Task Force for its heroic efforts to save precious lives in the face of evil. May God bless them and keep them safe.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 383, I call up the bill (H.R. 2) to secure the borders of the United States, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023.

Last year, Republicans made a commitment to America to secure our borders, protect our Nation, and safeguard our communities. Today, House Republicans are delivering on that promise.

No matter where you sit on the political spectrum, it is undeniable that we are in the midst of a severe border crisis. In just over 2 years, President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas have intentionally turned our Nation's border into a place of chaos and devastation, one controlled by the drug cartels.

The administration's refusal to enforce the law or implement effective policies to secure the border has led us to this point, completely dismantling any semblance of law and order. Over the past several months, the members of the Committee on Homeland Security have been hard at work crafting a solution to address the administration's self-inflicted crisis at our borders.

With input from our colleagues across the Republican Conference, as well as Border Patrol agents, victims of illegal alien crime and the drug crisis, small business owners, State and local law enforcement, and farmers and ranchers, the committee has taken the time to fully understand Secretary Mayorkas' record-breaking humanitarian crisis.

These are the everyday Americans bearing the brunt of this crisis who are all too often overlooked by the media and the DC beltway. The numbers that they, and now all Americans, are facing are staggering:

More than 5 million encounters at the southwest border since President Biden took office;

Over 1.4 million known got-aways since February 2021;

193 aliens on the terrorist watch list encountered along the southwest border trying to enter the country between ports of entry from fiscal year 2021 to fiscal year 2023;

Over 14,000 pounds of fentanyl seized in fiscal year 2023, enough to kill the entire U.S. population nine and a half times;

Over 61,000 criminal aliens arrested by CBP attempting to cross the U.S. borders since the beginning of FY 2021.

And just as we think it can't get any worse, tomorrow marks the end of the only tool that Customs and Border Protection has left under this administration, title 42.

As we have approached the end of title 42 the past few days, CBP has been reporting an even greater increase in the number of alien encounters and got-aways, which are already off the charts.

Whether my colleagues on the other side want to admit it or not, Mr. Biden and Mr. Mayorkas' border crisis has turned every State into a border State, and the American people have had enough.

From a record number of fentanyl deaths to rising crime, it is the families and communities across America that are left to pay the price of this administration's open borders and antisecurity policies.

These policies are enriching and emboldening transnational criminal organizations who have increasingly threatened the safety and security of all Americans.

However, we are here with a solution.

Thanks to the hard work of many members across multiple committees, H.R. 2 requires the administration to secure the border, enforce the law, and reduce illegal immigration, once again.

Specifically, division A of the bill addresses the immediate impact of the border crisis by focusing on mitigating and stopping the surge of illegal border crossers and illicit drugs that are flowing across our borders between ports of entry.

Over 30 years ago, the United States Government began building the border barrier system. We have heard from frontline agents on the ground that an effective border barrier system is a proven critical component in deterring and discouraging illegal activity. That is why H.R. 2 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to immediately resume construction of the border wall.

The bill requires at least 900 miles of wall to be built, using the materials that American taxpayers have already paid for, but that under President Biden are laying unused and left to deteriorate in the desert.

This bill makes targeted investments in border technology that not only supplements the border wall system, but also integrates new, advanced, and improved technologies into Border Patrol operations that will prioritize frontline personnel safety and the detection of illicit activity.

We know that Border Patrol agents are leaving at a faster rate than the CBP Commissioner can hire them. Under the Biden administration, Border Patrol agents are stretched thin, both physically and mentally. They are overwhelmed and overworked.

Customs and Border Protection agents are leaving before reaching their retirement eligibility because of poor working conditions and low morale due to a horrendous lack of support from the Biden administration and the inability to do what they signed up to do-- enforce the law.

During the committee's field hearing on March 15, Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz testified that he needs approximately 22,000 agents to achieve Border Patrol's mission. H.R. 2 mandates CBP expand their force by over 3,000 agents to reach that total of 22,000 agents.

The bill also aims to return agents back to their law enforcement duties in the field by ensuring they are not responsible for serving as processing coordinators, something that the Biden administration is forcing highly trained law enforcement agents to do.

The bill addresses the retention challenges that Border Patrol is facing by providing qualified agents with a retention bonus. They need to know that all of us in Congress have their back and appreciate their sacrifice.

The Department of Homeland Security has made very blatant attempts to bury the release of its monthly border statistics or withhold certain information from the public. That is why H.R. 2 requires DHS to publicly disclose all monthly data, including known got-aways and known or suspected terrorists, before the seventh day of each month.

Congress will not tolerate this administration's lack of transparency to the American people, who deserve to know who and what is coming into our country.

To further enhance border security measures, this bill increases support for Operation Stonegarden, a grant program that provides funds to State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies that are forced to deal directly with the crisis, given the administration's complete dereliction of duty.

Under H.R. 2, Operation Stonegarden grants will be increased to $110 million per year, and we know this support can't come soon enough for our State and local law enforcement.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives

Committee on Homeland Security

Washington, DC, May 4, 2023.

Hon. Jason Smith,

Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Smith: I write regarding H.R. 2794, the

``Border Reinforcement Act of 2023,'' of which the Committee

on Ways and Means received an additional referral. I

appreciate your support in bringing this legislation before

the House of Representatives, and that the Committee on Ways

and Means will forego further consideration of the bill.

The Committee on Homeland Security concurs with the mutual

understanding that by foregoing consideration of this bill at

this time, the Committee on Ways and Means does not waive

jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this

legislation in the future. In addition, should a conference

on this bill be necessary, I would support your request to

have the Committee on Ways and Means represented on the

conference committee.

I will include our letters on H.R. 2794 in the Committee

report on this measure and in the Congressional Record during

floor consideration of this bill. I look forward to working

with you on this legislation and appreciate your cooperation

on this matter.

Sincerely,

Mark E. Green, MD,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest), the vice chair of the Committee on Homeland Security.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gimenez).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. DesJarlais).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Tennessee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. D'Esposito).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Strong).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Greene).

Mr. Speaker, as a quick correction for the record,

the bill doesn't do anything to take away healthcare services provided by NGOs, just to clarify that.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles), my friend from my home State.

Mr. Speaker, again, I am compelled to correct the Record. The bill very specifically states that family units will be kept together. There will be no separation of children. It very clearly is stated in the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), my very good friend.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains on each side?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Luttrell), the American hero.

Mr. Speaker, I hear from my colleagues across

the aisle the accusations that the legislation that is before us today is somehow xenophobic. I will remind my colleagues that the number of countries of people who are appearing at our southern border, breaking our laws are from over 140 countries, every single race, every single religion, almost all the nationalities of the world. This bill is about law and order. It is not xenophobic.

I recall when I was there on the border, maybe it was three trips ago, some folks from Russia and Ukraine. This isn't xenophobic. This is about law and order.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Miller).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cloud).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take an opportunity to correct the record on a couple of things.

We often hear from our colleagues across the aisle that 90 percent of the fentanyl is seized at the ports of entry. Well, if you make the statement that 90 percent of the fentanyl that is seized is seized at the ports of entry, that is correct. But oftentimes, what we hear from the left, is that 90 percent of fentanyl coming into the country is seized. We know for a fact that that math is absolutely wrong.

If you put the amount seized at the ports of entry as the numerator and the total amount seized as the denominator, yes, that is 90 percent of what is seized. On the denominator would be 90 percent plus 10 percent, right? But what is missing in that denominator is all of the fentanyl that gets into our country that we have no idea is seized, so you can't technically say we are seizing 90 percent of the fentanyl that is coming into the country. That is factually incorrect. It makes no mathematical sense.

In fact, the Border Patrol itself is saying that we are actually catching about 5 to 10 percent of the fentanyl. So if it is 90 percent of what is seized at the ports of entry, which I agree that statement is correct, it is 90 percent of 5 to 10 percent of the total. That is an important point of distinction.

I would also like to talk a little bit about this CBP One app that my colleague from Mississippi mentioned and all of the other efforts that have been elaborated on by this administration, their efforts to maintain control of our border.

When they came into office, the budget didn't increase suddenly. The number of border patrol agents didn't decrease suddenly. There was no new legislation that was written.

What happened was 89 effective policies of two administrations were completely undone by executive orders, and it resulted in an immediate incentive to come to the United States. They did away with all of the disincentives, the pull factors, of people coming into our country.

What happened is, people came, they tested the system, and they were immediately released into the country. Deportations were ordered to be halted. Over a million people with deportation orders that a legal process had determined they were supposed to be returned, we are just not going to deport. Phone calls went home, and people poured across our southern border.

This incentive then was seized on by the drug cartels. They saw a huge opportunity, and so they flooded the crossing sites with people, interestingly enough, paying coyotes to bring them there.

That is sort of at the strategic level. They neutralized the Border Patrol at the border crossing sites, and then the fentanyl and other things come around between the ports of entry. That is the fentanyl we are seizing. By the way, that is the fentanyl that has resulted in the street price of fentanyl in Tennessee going from $95 in January of 2021 to $28 just recently, according to the sheriffs of Tennessee. That supply-demand means more fentanyl is pouring into this country.

If you talk about 90 percent of it being seized; that is a false statement. If you talk about the policies that supposedly are attempting to gain or are getting border control, that is incorrect. The incentives have allowed and empowered the drug cartels to take advantage, neutralizing the Border Patrol at the crossing sites.

Back to the tactical level, on one of my visits in Arizona, we actually saw a scout from the cartels. And the Border Patrol agents and the law enforcement in that area informed us that those scouts have military-grade encrypted radios. They have military-grade optics that they are using and from their vantage point are observing Border Patrol. They then notify someone else with this encrypted radio. They send 20 to 30 people to basically overwhelm that Border Patrol agent on the border. While that individual is tied up, they send the fentanyl. That is when the carpet-shoe-wearing, backpack fentanyl carriers result in drop sites just inside the border where I saw hundreds of empty backpacks and carpet shoes, where the drugs are then placed into the hands of the courier in the back of a truck and transported to cities all across America, resulting in that supply.

Make no mistake about it: The actions of this administration to remove those policies have resulted in this crisis. One of the other policies that they so effectively have taken care of--title 42, that will end tomorrow and will result in a catastrophe of epic proportions--is already breaking records, and we see them massing throughout Central America to come into the United States.

You can have good intentions of wanting to help every person on the planet. That is great. But by making that something that taxpayers have to do, you are basically determining what someone else should be doing with their charity.

Maybe somebody in Tennessee, our taxpayers, wants to do something for Gold Star families. Maybe they want to give to a different charity. Maybe they want to give to one of the NGOs that want to do something. But they should be the ones getting to decide, not the Federal Government telling them how their charity should be given. That is not freedom.

I will tell you, the policies that have been canceled that have resulted in this crisis, that have resulted in the cartels taking over five of our sectors of our southwest border, all on Joe Biden and Alejandro Mayorkas. Title 42 being canceled and what is about to happen, states of emergency in cities all across the southern border, coming across and making every State a border State, is on Joe Biden and Alejandro Mayorkas. I think it is really important we correct the record on some of this stuff.

I will make one other point, and I want to warn my colleagues across the aisle. President Biden promised to veto the D.C. crime bill. Remember that? He said: We are going to veto that bill. The Senate said: We are not going to vote for that. You know what our Democrat colleagues did here in the House? They all voted ``no.''

Then the furor happened in America, and the President realized, boy, that would be a mistake. The Senate said: Oh, my gosh, we are not going to do that either. So the Senate voted for the D.C. crime bill.

Now, the Democrat colleagues here in the House are going to have to go back and explain why they voted ``no'' when their party on the other side of the aisle voted ``yes,'' and their President changed his mind and signed that bill into law.

Now, you watch the next couple of days as the border gets worse and worse and Americans become more and more and more aware. We are going to pass this bill. You can vote ``no'' on it, but as those Senators get more and more aware of this crisis and the President has to look at what is happening to El Paso and Brownsville, he just might change his mind again. Guess who is going to be left holding the bag?

You don't want to vote ``no'' on this bill. This bill will secure our southern border. This isn't an immigration bill. We never set out to handle immigration with this. That is coming. This bill secures the border so that we can deal with the immigration issues.

What we can't do is create even more incentive with an open border. That just does what Mr. Mayorkas and Mr. Biden have done, create more incentive that brings more people in and overwhelms our social services, overwhelms our schools and hospitals.

As this thing unfolds over the next few days, don't be surprised if the President changes his mind again and you are left holding the bag.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the American people cannot wait any longer for secure borders and safe communities. Securing the border should not be a partisan issue. It is an American issue. It is the Federal Government's responsibility to do so. When they fail, Congress, a coequal branch of government, should step in and hold them accountable. That is what we are doing here today.

The Biden administration produced the catastrophic humanitarian tragedy we are seeing today, dismantling all semblance of law and order and sending a clear message to the cartels that our border is open.

We have all seen what has been happening in the past few days as title 42 comes to an end. It is a fact that the border is in shambles.

Frontline law enforcement personnel are overwhelmed and overworked as they are stretched physically and mentally amid this crisis. State and local resources are quickly depleting as they attempt to do the job that this administration has not done since its first day in charge: secure the borders and enforce the law.

The current situation at the border is unsustainable. Yet, over the past 2-plus years, my colleagues across the aisle have refused to hold the Biden administration accountable for its ineffective policies, have watched the border fall into the hands of violent cartels, and have completely ignored the disaster that has only gotten worse by the day.

That must end today. The American people are fed up with inaction.

The Biden-Mayorkas border crisis is a national security threat that must be addressed immediately. I encourage my colleagues to join House Republicans in passing this very important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I will close by addressing the patriots serving on the front lines of this crisis with no support or appreciation from this administration. Many of us have visited the border on several occasions, across multiple sectors, and have seen firsthand the work our Customs and Border Protection officers and agents do every single day to risk their lives for this great country.

To the officers and agents on the ground dealing with this crisis, on behalf of the American people, we appreciate you. We support you, and we have your back.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2, and I yield back the balance of my time.