Hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Rogers, Markup of "Rescinding DHS' Waiver Authority for Border Wall Act"

Hearing

"I oppose this bill. Last week, Secretary Nielsen appeared before our committee to explain in very stark terms the growing humanitarian and security crisis at our southwest border that we cannot ignore."

"We all heard how family apprehensions in Fiscal Year 2019 are more than 800 percent higher than FY2013. We heard how massive groups are overwhelming CBP's ability to process, house, and provide care for migrants."

"We heard how smugglers and traffickers are brutalizing women and children as they lead them across deserts controlled by drug cartels. We heard how gangs and cartels are bringing hundreds of thousands of pounds of drugs into our country."

"And, contrary to what some say, we learned that CBP actually seizes more pounds of drugs BETWEEN ports of entry than AT ports of entry."

Mr. Chairman, we must control the flow of illegal immigrants and stop the influx of community-destroying drugs across our southwest border. The only way to do that is to secure our border."

"We need an "all-of-the-above" approach to border security that includes manpower, 21st-century technology, and barriers. We know this approach works. In areas where we have built barriers, illegal traffic has plummeted. We need to build on this success, not impede it."

"Unfortunately, this bill would make it nearly impossible to construct barriers in areas where Border Patrol has determined they are critically needed. Border security and the safety of the American people used to be priorities for both Democrats and Republicans."

Rather than scoring political points with messaging bills, I encourage my colleagues to push for productive legislation to address the changing dynamics I have just described. I cannot support this bill, and I hope my colleagues will join me in voting "no."

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