Secure the Border Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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

This legislation is the culmination of months of hard work and collaboration of three House committees: Homeland Security, on which I serve as a member; Judiciary; and Foreign Affairs. It represents what is possible when we work together for the good of our Nation.

In my very first floor speech as a Member of Congress, I echoed the concerns and fears I have heard from the constituents that I represent and what I have seen firsthand at the southern border.

Americans are not safe, and our country is under attack at the southern border. Illegal immigrants, drug runners, and human smugglers continue to exploit this administration's open southern border policy as this administration looks the other way.

This last weekend, in just 72 hours, Border Patrol apprehended over 26,000 migrants, had approximately 7,500 got-aways, and seized 11 pounds of fentanyl, enough to kill 2.5 million Americans. If this is what operational control looks like to this administration, it is no wonder why Americans are worried.

Title 42 is set to expire tomorrow, bringing not a surge but an invasion of illegal immigrants that our communities, hospitals, schools, and law enforcement officials simply can't handle. This debacle created by this administration has not seen its worst day.

Just this morning, the administration released a statement outlining how they plan to deal with this incoming invasion. The Department of Homeland Security press release says they have finalized a rule to incentivize the use of lawful immigration pathways. They are choosing to incentivize illegal immigrants to follow our laws when we should be punishing those who don't follow our laws. The fact is, President Trump's border policies worked for America.

Now more than ever, we must pass this legislation and move toward a lawful, safe, secure, and orderly border. We don't have time to waste.

Among many important provisions, this legislation would grant DHS authority to suspend entry and gain operational control of the border, similar to title 42. I am pleased to stand here today with my colleagues in support of this legislation that begins to address the massive failure of this administration.

H.R. 2 reflects Republicans' commitment to make America safer. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. It is up to us to stop this invasion of America at the southern border because no one else will.

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