Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, the border is not secure. Our officers are doing everything they can, but they need more resources. They need better leadership.

The President must take the border crisis seriously because 100,000 Americans died from fentanyl poisoning last year, and we know that fentanyl is coming from China through the U.S.-Mexico border.

Republicans in the House understand this. We stand ready to increase physical barriers, to hire more Border Patrol agents and immigration judges, to implement new technologies, and to support our officers on the front lines of this crisis.

As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I am committed to working with all of my colleagues to make sure that our country is safe, our border is secure, and our law enforcement has the tools it needs to be successful. Our great Nation depends on it.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 143.

The Clerk will designate the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 21.

Increasing American energy supplies decreases our Nation's reliance on our adversaries in the Middle East and Russia and is worthy of bipartisan support.

H.R. 21 helps me keep a promise I made to Long Islanders that I would fight to make America energy independent by seeking opportunities to safely increase energy production.

I made another promise, too. I promised to protect Long Island's waters, which are home to a vibrant ecosystem and are the foundation of an already struggling fishing industry.

To keep that promise, I have introduced an amendment to H.R. 21. My simple amendment, which is less than 100 words, states that H.R. 21 cannot affect or supersede any existing restrictions on oil and gas leases offshore the northeast part of the United States, from the coast of Maine to New Jersey.

Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues for their support of this commonsense, pro-energy, pro-worker, pro-environment, and pro-fishing amendment.

I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mr. LaLota

Amendment No. 143: Add at the end the following: