Floor Statements

Mr. President, in order to be a strong nation, we have to have strong borders, and right now we don't have that. We haven't had that for 3\1/2\ years. In fact, we are in the middle of the worst border crisis in American history.

This is a crisis of President Biden's own making. Starting on his first day in office, he has intentionally and repeatedly undermined security at the southern border. During his first 100 days in office, President Biden took 94 Executive actions to open the border, and, 3\1/ 2\ years later, nearly 10 million illegal aliens have entered our country.

Now, those 10 million include an unknown number of dangerous individuals, hundreds on the Terrorism Watch List, countless transnational cartel members, drug smugglers, and human traffickers. It is a laundry list of evil. And perhaps the worst consequences that we have seen over the past 3\1/2\ years are the tragedies: the innocent men and women taken from their families by an illegal alien who should have never been here in the first place.

So imagine being a mother or a father. You send your daughter off to college. You are beaming with pride, but you are also a little heartsick that they are going to be out there on their own. Then, a few months later, you get the worst call in your life. And that is the reality for the family of Laken Riley.

Or another situation: Let's imagine that your uncle is a sheriff's deputy. You couldn't be prouder of him. You know he gets up and he goes to work every day to defend and protect his community. One day, you see his name on the news as a victim of a pack of illegal alien gang members who brutally murdered him while he was on duty. That is the reality for the family of Wake County, NC, Deputy Sheriff Ned Byrd.

Now, I recognize that the debate around illegal immigration is full of passion and sometimes antagonism, but I believe we can all agree that if an illegal alien commits the crime of assaulting a police officer, he or she must be subject to immediate deportation.

And that is why I stand here today to propose that the Senate pass the POLICE Act. It is a straightforward bill. The POLICE Act simply states that an illegal alien can be deported for assaulting a police officer, firefighter, or other first responder. The bill has already passed the House, and it can be sent to the President's desk by passing it right now. Any Senator who claims to support the police should have no problem supporting this bill. So let's help remove dangerous individuals before another tragedy strikes.

Mr. President, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume legislative session and that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2494 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, it is such an honor to serve the people in North Carolina, all 100 counties, all from different backgrounds. I don't profess to know what it is like in Connecticut, but I thank my colleague for his remarks.

But it is disheartening to hear that a simple piece of legislation, the Police Act, which states that an alien--illegal alien--could be deported for assaulting a police officer, firefighter, or first responder is nothing. I don't profess to understand that. Perhaps it is different in Connecticut than North Carolina. I don't know.

I don't want to put words in the mouth of the family of Laken Riley or the family of Deputy Sheriff Byrd, but I don't believe it is nothing.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, you know, we meet this week at a critical time. The threats we face on the world stage are demanding our attention in a way that we have not seen in decades.

From the Middle East, to Europe, to the Indo-Pacific, weakness from President Biden has allowed chaos to spread across this globe. In Israel, they are in a fight for survival against genocidal Hamas terrorists. In the Indo-Pacific, China is saber-rattling and making provocative moves towards Taiwan and the Philippines. In Ukraine, Russia continues its brutal war of aggression by committing war crimes against innocent civilians. But right here at home, we are facing a crisis of our own--most notably, the worst border crisis in American history.

The truth is that the consequences of our border crisis affect our citizens the most. For example, in my home State of North Carolina, we have seen a 22-percent increase in drug overdose deaths--the highest level ever recorded. This is primarily due to deadly fentanyl that was transported into our country through an open southern border on President Biden's watch.

Police departments from Charlotte to Raleigh have uncovered tens of thousands of pounds of fentanyl--enough to kill every man, woman, and child not just in North Carolina but in the whole country. Right now, we have an administration ignoring that crisis, and the only attempt the Senate made to address it--it fell far short of what is needed.

So as we again debate foreign aid and foreign spending, I will repeat what I have said throughout the process. We must secure our own border before we help other countries protect theirs. In order to be a strong nation, we first have to have a strong border here at home.

During one of my recent telephone townhalls a few month ago, I asked a poll question to the thousands of people who had joined me that evening on the phone. I asked: If you could be assured that the southern border was secure, would you then support sending aid to allies and partners? Roughly two-thirds of the respondents said yes. You see, most people aren't opposed to helping our friends; they just think we need to take care of our own country first.

For me, ``America First'' does not mean ``America Only,'' so when I oppose this package, it won't be because I oppose helping our friends and our allies. We should send Israel the weapons they need to eliminate Hamas and free the remaining hostages--one, by the way, who is a North Carolinian. We should counter the Chinese Communist Party's military aggression in the Indo-Pacific and its social media subversion inside our country. We should counter Russia's brutality and force Putin to the negotiating table on terms most favorable to Ukraine. We should rebuild the arsenal of democracy and make significant investments in our national defense. We should do all of those things but not before we fix what affects our own citizens first.

Too many Americans are suffering. Too many Americans are dying. This is an order of priorities, and my first priority as a U.S. Senator will always be to make life better for us here in the United States and back home in North Carolina.

I will oppose this foreign aid package because we must put America first--not alone, not alone, but first.

I yield the floor.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, it has been more than 6 months since Hamas committed heinous acts of evil against innocent civilians. It was the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

Tragically, the attack included the murder and kidnapping of U.S. citizens. For the hostages still being held in Gaza, the terror continues. The hostages are being deprived of food, water, and medicine. They are being subjected to unbearable violence, abuse, and torture by Hamas terrorists.

Think about the pain, the uncertainty, and the fear that has gripped the families day after day for more than 180 days. This is personal for Americans, but it is particularly important to those of us in North Carolina.

One of our fellow citizens is among those still being held, Keith Siegel. Seeking the release of hostages demands strength, demands moral clarity. We demand it from our own leaders, and we should require it from our major allies.

I believe it is time for our Nation to reexamine whom we can count on to be on our side and who stands on the side of the terrorists.

The State of Qatar, for example, hosts Hamas leaders in their capital of Doha. Now, initially, Qatari officials claimed that they were exercising leverage on Hamas. Then, they publicly stated thereafter that they don't have any leverage. And now, they are promoting a cease- fire, regardless of the release of the hostages.

After 6 months, the patience of the United States has run out. The truth is that Qatar does have significant leverage over Hamas. They have the ability to expel these terrorists if they don't release the hostages or at least engage in reasonable negotiations.

In fact, last month, a bipartisan group of Senators stated clearly that ``if Hamas refuses reasonable negotiations, there is no reason for Qatar to continue hosting Hamas' political office or any of its members in Doha.''

After multiple more than fair offers from Israel, Hamas has refused to accept any deal or even show flexibility on terms. The truth is that Hamas is not interested in releasing the hostages, and Qatar seems equally uninterested in forcing them to do so. It is time that we hold nations like Qatar accountable for their dithering and for their stalling.

Since 2022, Qatar has enjoyed ``Major Non-NATO Ally'' status. This designation is a privilege that nations like Qatar must continuously earn.

Failure to take action against Hamas is beginning to look like tacit support for a foreign terrorist organization designated by the United States. This is not acceptable behavior for a Major Non-NATO Ally.

That is why I introduced a bill this week to require the Secretary of State to formally certify four things: One, whether it is in the national interest of the United States for Qatar to maintain its designation as a Major Non-NATO Ally; two, whether Qatar has exerted any and all leverage it has over Hamas to secure the release of the U.S. hostages from Gaza; three, that Qatar does not directly or indirectly support--financially or otherwise--acts of international terrorism or foreign terrorist organizations, including Hamas; and, four, that Qatar has expelled or agreed to extradite to the United States any individuals bearing responsibility for the terror attack on October 7, 2023.

If the Secretary of State cannot make the certification in good faith, then the President is required to immediately terminate the designation of the State of Qatar as a ``Major Non-NATO Ally.''

I don't introduce this bill lightly. It is not where I started with this relationship, but it is a reflection of where we are today as a result of the repeated warnings that Members of Congress have given to Qatar about the liability of continuing to host Hamas.

Since October 7, I have engaged privately and publicly with Qatar. At times, I have even thanked them, including for the November hostage deal, which included the release of some U.S. citizens. But I have also been clear about expectations for Qatar's relationship with Hamas and mediation of a hostage crisis moving forward.

You see, the United States expects its allies to use all leverage and exert all possible pressure to secure the release of our citizens when they are taken hostage.

At the beginning of this year, I told the Qataris that time is up and the United States will be watching. It is now long past time, and we have been watching closely. The time for talking is over, and the time for action is now. If we don't see action, then Qatar must face consequences.

At the end of the day, the bill represents another step toward securing the freedom of our fellow Americans. It is my sincere hope that this Chamber can speak with one voice in solidarity and assure these families that we are indeed doing everything to bring their loved ones home.

So as in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4093, which is at the desk; I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Connecticut. That was beautiful, articulate. It was a beautiful articulation of all the reasons to support my bill.

You see, this week, some of the hostages' families are in Washington to meet with leaders from all branches of government. I have met with them many, many times, and every time I come away deeply moved by the strength and resilience that they are showing in the space of an unspeakable evil.

I let them know that not only are all levels of our government working to bring their loved ones home safely, but that I would do everything in my power to make it happen. Sometimes that means being direct, even with friends like Qatar. Sometimes, that means making allies uncomfortable.

But the truth of the matter is that friends are honest with one another. So this is more than about just a bilateral relationship between two nations. This is about the well-being of U.S. citizens and a native of my home State, North Carolina.

While the Senate won't be able to pass this today because of the objection, it is my hope that we can work through the committee process to get this bill across the finish line. But, more importantly, while Qatar has done less than hoped and expected, and other allies like Egypt have thankfully stepped up to fill the unfortunate void, let this bill be a tool to move the hostage negotiations forward and secure the release of all the hostages being held in Gaza.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, in order to be a strong Nation, we have to have strong borders. Right now, we don't have that. We haven't had that for 3 years. I talk with sheriffs from all over all of North Carolina-- 100 counties--and many of them tell me the same things over and over: Every single county is now a border county because of Joe Biden's policies. And those policies have been implemented by his Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. From the very beginning of his tenure at DHS, Secretary Mayorkas has intentionally undermined security at the southern border again and again and again.

I have a list right here. Now, I know I have limited time, but let's try and run through some of the worst examples. On February 1, 2021, DHS implemented a policy requiring ``alternatives to removal including, but not limited to, staying or reopening cases, alternative forms of detention, custodial detention, whether to grant temporary deferred action, or other appropriate action.'' This telegraphed the Department's complete unwillingness to enforce the law and to detain illegal aliens.

On March 20, 2021, the Mayorkas DHS began issuing illegal border crossers a Notice to Report to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as opposed to the standard notice to appear. The notice to report policy allows illegal aliens to simply be released into the United States, and it relies on them to self-report to ICE at a later date. Now, this, ladies and gentlemen, marked the return of catch-and- release.

On July of 2021, the Mayorkas DHS released at least 50,000 aliens without giving them a notice to appear at all. They were advised to self-report to ICE on their own. To the shock of no one, 87 percent of them didn't even report.

On August 17, 2021, the Mayorkas DHS announced an expansion of alternatives to detention. It announced the expansion of taxpayer- funded services to illegal aliens in removal proceedings. This further supercharged the policy of catch-and-release.

On August 31, 2021, the Biden administration disclosed that they released over 100,000 aliens into the United States without giving them a notice to appear.

Again, they were asked to self-report to ICE on their own. Nearly half of them didn't check in with ICE within the 60-day deadline. On September 30, 2021, Secretary Mayorkas issued a memo stating that ``the fact an individual is a removable [alien] should [not be the sole] basis of an enforcement action.''

This is willful misuse of prosecutorial discretion, and it effectively gave deportable aliens a path to stay in the United States.

On October 8, 2021, the Mayorkas DHS canceled another large group of border wall contracts related to the Laredo and Rio Grande Valley border sectors.

On October 27, 2021, Secretary Mayorkas issued another memo prohibiting enforcement of immigration laws in the following areas--now listen to these: schools, healthcare facilities, recreational areas, social service facilities, ceremonial locations, as well as at demonstrations and at political rallies.

On October 29, 2021, Secretary Mayorkas formally terminated the ``Remain in Mexico'' policy, inviting illegal aliens to America's doorstep.

I could go on, but the bottom line is that this is nothing short of a dereliction of duty on the part of Secretary Mayorkas. He must be held accountable, and that is why he was the second Cabinet Secretary in American history ever to be impeached by the House of Representatives.

The U.S. Senate has a constitutional duty to take these charges seriously and to conduct a full trial on the merits. To do anything less would be an insult to the victims of these open-border policies.

We can't wait. Too many people are suffering. Too many people are dying. We must say enough.

This administration must face accountability for causing the worst border crisis in American history. Now is the time to act.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I move to table Senate amendment 1794 for the

purpose of offering my amendment No. 1807.

I would like 2 minutes of debate.

Mr. President, we are in the middle of the worst border crisis in American history as a direct result of the failed policies of President Biden.

My amendments are meant to address these failed policies. The amendment I am offering prevents illegal aliens who commit the crime of assaulting a law enforcement officer from ever obtaining legal status or citizenship.

This is particularly relevant to my home State of North Carolina in light of the murder of Lake County Deputy Sheriff Ned Byrd by an illegal alien in 2022.

Any Senator who claims to support the police should have no problem supporting this amendment. So before you shut down this amendment, just ask yourself: Do you believe that someone who beats up a cop and is here illegally should be allowed to legally remain in our country? I don't think so, and I hope that all of my colleagues would agree.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, let me be clear. The amendment I am offering prevents illegal aliens who commit the crime of burglary, theft, or shoplifting from being granted legal status or citizenship.

This is particularly relevant in the case of Laken Riley, where the illegal alien who murdered her had previously been arrested for those crimes.

The American people need to know who stands on the side of preventing tragedies and who will enable them. Now, I know my Democratic colleagues are fearful, perhaps squeamish, to prevent immigration issues from being voted on tonight. We have even gone into past midnight and into a brief government shutdown to avoid it.

I might be a freshman in this Chamber, but I have been here long enough to know that deadlines are powerful motivators but so should be common sense and common decency.

Look, we have seen the cost of not dealing with this issue in the tragic death of Laken Riley, and I hope each and every one of my colleagues would agree it is time to act and support my amendment.

I move to table Senate amendment No. 1792 for the purpose of offering my amendment No. 1740, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, there have been more than 9 million illegal alien border crossings on President Biden's watch. At the same time, there has been a 57-percent decrease in arrests of criminal illegal aliens and a 67-percent decrease in deportation of criminal aliens.

This complete lack of enforcement of existing law has caused unimaginable human suffering across our country. One such tragedy occurred last month in Athens, GA. An illegal alien from Venezuela brutally murdered 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley on the campus of the University of Georgia. What makes this story all the more devastating was that the killer could have been stopped but wasn't.

So how on Earth was this tragedy even allowed to take place? Well, here is the timeline. The killer illegally entered the United States in September of 2022 in El Paso, TX. He was caught, but then he was paroled into the country. He then made his way to New York City, where he was arrested for child endangerment in 2023, but then he was released. He then fled to Georgia, where he committed several petty crimes like theft and shoplifting. He was not detained by ICE. Then came the tragedy of February 22, where he preyed on an innocent young woman jogging around a university campus.

This was allowed to take place because of the open border policies of President Biden. It took place because executive Agencies are given discretion to determine what crimes trigger a detainer to be issued to take an illegal alien into custody. The ``discretion loophole'' has got to be closed. And that is why we are here today: to make sure these tragedies never happen again.

In Laken's honor, Senator Katie Britt of Alabama and I have teamed up to introduce the Laken Riley Act. This bill would require ICE to issue detainers and take into custody illegal aliens who commit crimes like theft and shoplifting. The legislation also empowers state attorneys general to sue the Secretary of Homeland Security for taking actions on immigration that harm their States or their citizens.

The bottom line: If this bill were in place before February 22, Laken Riley would be alive today.

The House of Representatives passed this bill last week in a bipartisan--again, a bipartisan--vote of 251 to 70, including 37 Democrats. In a time of division and polarization, the Laken Riley Act brought both sides together.

It is our hope that we can learn from this horrific situation and make some positive change. So let's pass the Laken Riley Act today.

Mr. President, I would like to yield to my colleague from Indiana.

Mr. President, I would like to further yield to my colleague from Kansas.

Mr. President, it is for the reasons articulated by my friend and colleague from Kansas and my friend and colleague from Indiana that, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 341, H.R. 7511; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I am deeply disappointed in my Democratic colleagues for objecting to a bill that, had it been in place, Laken Riley's life would have been spared. The Democratic Party's commitment to open borders is causing otherwise preventable tragedies to occur again and again and again.

But while we are here, let me address some of the counterarguments that we have heard.

One contention is that this bill would apply to individuals merely accused of a crime, robbing them of due process. Well, the fact that illegal aliens are freely roaming around the country in and of itself is illegal. If they then commit another crime, authorities are well within their rights to detain them.

The law that this bill would strengthen already requires detention for those who have been involved in various acts, such as drug trafficking, prostitution, and other vices, regardless of whether or not they have been convicted.

Opponents of this bill don't just have a problem with this bill; they have a problem with well-established laws on the books.

Another argument that I have heard is that this bill would violate the Constitution's standing requirements to file lawsuits.

The Supreme Court in the United States v. Texas provided a clear roadmap for Congress to authorize lawsuits against the executive branch for failing to enforce the law. The bill follows that roadmap and upholds the Constitution's separation of powers.

The bill authorizes a state attorney general or other authorized officer to bring a lawsuit against executive branch officials for failure to enforce immigration laws in a manner that harms such State or its residents. The bill authorizes a Federal court to grant appropriate injunctive relief. This bill does not prejudge the result of any case or tie a judge's hands. The bill simply ensures that States are given their day in court to protect their citizens against the harmful, lawless, open border policies of the Biden administration.

I simply don't believe that another American family needs to experience a tragedy like the one that befell the Riley family. I am going to continue to work with my colleague from Alabama, Senator Britt, and all my colleagues to push this legislation until it passes this Chamber.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object because this modification would remove my amendment.

We are in the middle of the worst border crisis in U.S. history. The story of this crisis is one of preventable tragedies compounding day after day. And, sadly, we have seen it in my home State of North Carolina less than 2 years ago when Wake County Deputy Sheriff Ned Byrd was killed in the line of duty. He was murdered by illegal aliens who never should have been in this country.

I believe that if an illegal alien commits the crime of assaulting a police officer, he or she must be subject to immediate deportation.

Any Senator who claims to support the police should have no problem supporting my amendment, which would attach the POLICE Act to this funding package. The POLICE Act simply states that an alien can be deported for assaulting a police officer, a firefighter, or other first responder.

The bill has already passed the House, and it can be sent to the President's desk by passing it right now. We have had good-faith negotiations on this. We are even willing to have it at a 60-vote threshold.

So I would ask that my fellow Senators support my amendment. Help remove dangerous individuals before another tragedy strikes.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, President Abraham Lincoln once said that ``no Administration by any extreme of wickedness or folly can . . . seriously injure the Government in the short space of [only] four years.'' That statement might need to be revised if Lincoln had witnessed the first 3 years of President Joe Biden.

Our country has been through a prolonged period of failure and crisis brought on by a weak leader who bows to his far-left base and pursues policies that hurt the very people he claims to help.

There is no better example of this than at the southern border, where President Biden has presided over the worst border crisis in U.S. history--millions of illegal crossings, hundreds of individuals on the Terrorist Watchlist, tens of thousands of pounds of deadly fentanyl, nearly 2 million known ``got-aways,'' and millions more unknown ``got- aways,'' including terrorists, human traffickers, and other bad actors.

The crisis at the border is a crisis of President Biden's own making. Starting on his very first day in office, President Biden has unleashed dozens of Executive actions that telegraphed that his administration was no longer interested in enforcing the law when it comes to illegal immigration. Here are some of the most devastating examples:

He halted construction of the border wall, leaving the physical defense of our Nation's border to scattered areas of old, rusty barbwire. I have seen it with my own eyes.

He ended the ``Remain in Mexico'' policy that ensured that illegal aliens were turned back before they even arrived at the doorstep of our country. The result? Well, not only are untold millions being encountered right at the border, but when they are caught, the Biden administration releases about 75 percent of them into the interior of the United States, some with taxpayer-funded escorts and travel.

The Biden administration also halted deportation of those who illegally entered our country. In fact, just last year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement only deported 5 percent of the millions they encountered at the border.

Taken together, what is the message this President has sent to a would-be illegal immigrant? Well, for one, the United States won't construct physical barriers to stop you. We won't even lock the door to our own house, it seems. If you are caught, the United States will release you and resettle you with money out of our own taxpayers' pockets. And don't worry--per the Biden administration, the United States will never deport you.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why this crisis persists, but it doesn't have to be this way. Just 4 years ago, illegal immigration was at a record low. Make no mistake, President Biden already has the power to fix this. It was his Executive actions that on day one caused this mess, and he can clean it up by undoing those very same orders on day 1,142--today.

We are witnessing in real time a national decline, but the good news is, that decline is a choice, and our time for choosing is coming. It is not too late. Despite all of the things that are broken right now, we can still be a strong nation as long as we have a leader with the strength and the willingness to get the job done.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, we meet this week at a critical time for our country and for our world. There are wars raging in Europe and the Middle East.

China poses a growing threat to the United States and our interests in the Indo-Pacific, and we are currently facing the worst border crisis in U.S. history. We are feeling the consequences of this crisis all over the country.

In New York City, we witnessed illegal aliens attack members of law enforcement and then brazenly flaunt obscene gestures on camera to all of America. In Boston, an illegal alien who crossed the border in December 2022 was arrested by ICE after raping a handicapped citizen. Pick your city. Pick your State.

In my home State of North Carolina, we have seen a 22-percent increase in drug overdose deaths--the highest level ever recorded. This is primarily due to deadly fentanyl that was produced in China and then transported into our country through an open southern border on President Biden's watch.

Police departments from Charlotte to Raleigh have uncovered tens of thousands of pounds of fentanyl, enough to kill every man, woman, and child not just in my home State of North Carolina but in this whole country.

Now, in order to tackle the challenges both at home and abroad, the Senate and the White House attempted to craft an agreement to deal with this border crisis.

The Senator, my friend and colleague from Oklahoma, Senator Lankford, did the best he could considering the ideologies of those he was negotiating with. But unfortunately, Senate Democrats are still beholden to progressive ideologies and ideologues who believe in open borders.

Now, this term ``progressive'' is a perversion of the term ``progress,'' isn't it? Especially since it leads the other side of the aisle down a path of chaos and tragedy. For example, President Biden has taken 94 Executive actions that transformed the border from a place of relative security to a place of lawlessness. That might be progressive, but, friends, that ain't progress.

It might be progressive, but it is not progress to live in a nation where children die of accidental fentanyl overdoses before they even learn to drive a car. It might be progressive, but it is not progress to allow terrorists, cartel members, and human traffickers to roam freely in communities around this country.

But when it comes to our side's recent history, the Republican House

acted. They passed H.R. 2. But at the end of the day, it is Democrats who refuse to agree to any provisions that would meaningfully secure our border.

At the same time, the threats we face on the world stage demand our attention as well.

We have an opportunity to rebuild the arsenal of democracy, make significant investments in our national defense, and prepare ourselves for the threat from the Chinese Communist Party. Right now, our defense supply lines are brittle. Our manufacturing base is not prepared for future conflict, and it has to be modernized.

Our allies and our partners, like Israel and Taiwan, need our help-- especially our friends in Israel. They are in a fight for survival. We need to send them the aid they need to finish the job and to free the remaining hostages, one of whom is a North Carolinian.

At the same time, we should share Israel's military objectives: to destroy Hamas, to demilitarize Gaza, and to deradicalize the Palestinian population.

We don't need President Biden's virtue signaling to a Democrat base that is increasingly becoming pro-Hamas. We need to let our allies in Israel and around the world know that we are on their side and that our resolve is, indeed, strong.

If we let our own defense atrophy and we leave our allies high and dry, forces of evil and instability will be even more emboldened, and our world will become even more dangerous.

Remember, it is American strength that deters aggression, and it is weakness that provokes it. But in order to be a strong nation, we first have to be strong right here at home. We must secure our own border before we can help other countries protect theirs. I believe that this position is reasonable, and I am going to mention a quick example to make my point.

On one of my recent telephone townhalls, I asked a poll question to thousands of people who were on the call. I asked: If you could be assured that the southern border was secure, then would you support sending support to our allies and our partners?

I will say that again.

If you could be assured that the southern border was secure, would you then support sending support to our allies and our partners?

Roughly two-thirds of the respondents said yes. I bet it is the same in other States around this country. Most folks aren't opposed to helping our friends; they just think we need to take care of our country first. And ``America First'' doesn't have to mean ``America Only.'' But as I watch the process play out here in this Chamber, I can't blame folks back home who really feel frustrated.

The Senate's initial deal, which at least attempted to address the border crisis, was then replaced with a bill with zero border provisions at all, and to date, there has not been a full amendment process, as was promised.

For example, I think it would be outrageous to allow a single U.S. taxpayer dollar to flow to Gaza while Hamas terrorists hold American citizens hostages. This amendment and many others are not even going to be considered.

The truth is that this entire process is not working. The only viable path forward is for Congress to force President Biden to get serious about border security and then for the American people to see the situation at the border start to get better. Until that happens, we find ourselves locked in a stalemate as the world burns.

We can't accept this. Yes, we want to help our allies and our partners, but to keep our Nation strong, we must always put America first.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce on its 125th anniversary.

Since its founding in 1899, the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce has played a vital role in promoting small businesses, tourism, and all that New Bern has to offer.

New Bern has a rich history as North Carolina's second oldest town. It once served as the first capital of our great state. New Bern is also widely known as the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola. The community boasts a thriving downtown with vibrant restaurants and small businesses. It is a true gem in Eastern North Carolina thanks to the continual efforts of organizations like the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce.

As a small business owner and member of the United States Senate Committee on Small Business, I know that chambers of commerce are one of the greatest assets to smaller towns and rural communities. I appreciate the efforts that President & CEO Kevin Roberts and his entire team make daily to help ensure New Bern continues to thrive.

Mr. President, please join me in congratulating the New Bern Area Chamber on their 125th anniversary. I can say with certainty that this organization will remain a pillar in the community for decades to come.

Madam President, over the weekend, our Nation lost three servicemembers in a drone attack in Jordan. Responsibility for this attack rests with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Sadly, what happened over the weekend, it is not a surprise. It has been happening for months.

Iran and their proxies have launched more than 165 attacks against U.S. troops across the Middle East and countless more against commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea.

There has been a consistent drumbeat of Iranian-backed proxy attacks since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

A few things are clear about this situation. First, Iran and its proxies, they do not currently fear the United States.

Second, Iran is intent on harming the United States, our servicemembers, and our interests.

Third, Iran is aiming to push the United States out of the Middle East in a bid for complete regional power. We can't let this takeover happen.

Iranian dominance in the Middle East would jeopardize the free flow of international trade; it would endanger important energy resources as well as damage America's counterterrorism efforts. And in the shadow of October 7, if we were to abandon our Middle East allies, it would be open season on Israel and the Jewish people.

I have heard the views of many in this Chamber, ranging from those who favor an immediate military offensive inside Iran to those who want the United States to leave the region altogether. Instead of beginning another ``forever war'' or succumbing to isolationism, I would submit that there is a better way. And we don't have to go back very far in history to find it.

After a single American contractor was killed at the hands of Iran in 2019, President Trump ordered a strike that eliminated the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani. We didn't start a war, and we didn't withdraw. We simply sent Iran's leaders a very clear message; that is, if you kill Americans, you will forfeit your life. And Iran pulled back.

That is deterrence, when all nations know for certain that we are willing to act in defense of our people. It is that clear understanding that actually prevents a wider conflict, and it is a breakdown in clarity that is provoking the Iranians to continue taking more dangerous--and ultimately deadly--shots at U.S. forces abroad.

We must end the failed Biden policy of appeasement toward Iran. We must also stop telegraphing U.S. responses so Iran and its proxies can move personnel, weapons, and equipment out of the target area. Weakness only invites further aggression.

We must reestablish deterrence, and we must respond with the strength that this moment requires. No more half measures, hesitation, or muddled messages. Iran and their proxies must know that when the United States of America tells them to stop, we mean it, and we are willing to do something about it. Without a strong response, the risk of escalation only increases and, with it, the danger to America.

One other note before I yield the floor, all of my colleagues and I are here today to stand shoulder to shoulder with the nation of Israel. They are one of our closest friends and allies. That is why it is highly disturbing to read reports that the Biden administration is reviewing options to reward the extremism and barbarism of Hamas by unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state. This would represent a major reversal of longstanding U.S. policy and would be a betrayal of our friend and ally Israel. The Biden administration must abandon any consideration of such a dangerous and foolish proposal.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, it has been 111 days since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel. Hamas massacred more than 1,200 civilians and abducted innocent men, women, and children from their homes and took them into Gaza.

The hostages are being deprived of food, water, and medical care. They are being subjected to unbearable violence, sexual abuse, and psychological torture by Hamas terrorists.

We know that six of the remaining hostages are Americans. One is a native of my home State North Carolina, Keith Siegel. Two of the Americans, Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Sagui Dekel-Chen, are critically injured.

Each and every one of them must be released, and all levels of our government remain united in working to get them home.

What Hamas has done is nothing short of evil. In this battle between the forces of good and evil, the United States must not only lead the forces of good, but we need to identify who stands with us and who does not.

The State of Qatar hosts Hamas leaders in their capital of Doha. Now, Qatari officials have claimed that their hosting of Hamas terrorist leaders is necessary, so they say, because their country can be the conduit to negotiate a successful resolution to the crisis. In fact, subsequent U.S. administrations have endorsed this arrangement.

But after 111 days, the American people are asking: What is taking so long?

Qatar is hosting a brutal terrorist organization with American blood on their hands and American hostages in captivity. One has to consider the potential reality that Qatar might not have the leverage that they are so quick to boast about. And if Qatar is not able to effectuate the release of the hostages, then there is no further reason for these terrorists to remain in their country.

This is personal for us Americans.

I have met with families of the hostages as well as former hostages, like Keith Siegel's wife Aviva. I have heard their stories, and I look at their photos every day on my desk.

Every day that these families have to live with the pain and uncertainty is unacceptable.

To Qataris, I would say this: Our patience has run out. Time is up. Either pressure Hamas leaders to release the hostages now or expel them from your land. It is that simple.

The United States of America will be watching.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I want to thank the Senator from West Virginia for holding this event to highlight one of the biggest issues facing working families today, and that is the cost of energy in America.

Since President Biden took office, the overall price of energy has skyrocketed by almost 35 percent. And when you dig down into the numbers, individual sources of energy, the news doesn't get any better. Fuel oil is up nearly 50 percent; gas prices are up over 40 percent; natural gas is up over 27 percent.

You know, in real terms, everyday Americans are spending an extra $111 per month to fuel their car and to heat their home. Businesses of all sizes are having to spend thousands of dollars more to produce goods and to move them around the country.

So what is causing all of this? Well, if you ask President Biden, he trots out talking points blaming foreign conflicts for the rising prices. But, to be fair, turmoil in the Middle East and Russia certainly plays a part. But the real question is, Why is the United States so dependent on foreign nations in the first place? Why are we at the mercy of petty despots and dictators for the fuel that we need right here?

It is because President Biden has orchestrated an all-out assault on American energy, starting on his first day in office. The Biden administration stopped construction of the Keystone Pipeline; they canceled all remaining oil and gas leases from the Trump administration in the Arctic Refuge; and they shut down energy exploration on Federal lands. Make no mistake, this is a crisis of President Biden's own making.

In response, President Biden has grasped for a political solution to a policy problem. His administration began to tap the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Now the SPR is designed for times of war, national disaster, or a true national emergency. President Biden, on the other hand, has used it over and over again to bail himself out of the political consequences of his anti-energy crusade.

The result? The SPR has declined by nearly 287 million barrels of crude oil since President Biden took office. Our Nation's emergency energy reserves are now at their lowest level since President Reagan's--President Reagan's--first term.

Our country is no longer well-positioned to deal with the next crisis because this President is tilting at windmills and pursuing a radical Green New Deal agenda. For example, this President's EPA is mandating that 67 percent of new car sales in the United States in 2032 be electric. The only problem is, in 2023, only roughly 8 percent--8 percent--of new car sales were EVs. It is clear that the consumer demand is nowhere near sufficient to satisfy his big government mandate.

Even so, if we are going to push such a drastic increase in electric vehicles, President Biden has to get serious about ways to produce enough reliable, affordable energy. He cannot continue to rely on our own emergency reserves to meet this supply. It is time for us to get back to an America-first energy plan: drill on our shores, refill our emergency reserves for a real crisis, and lower gas and electric prices for hard-working Americans.

In order to be a strong nation, we have to be a self-sufficient nation and energy dominant. We know what to do. All we need is the right leadership to get it done.

I yield the floor.