Solving the Worst Border Crisis in American History
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, since his first day in office, President Biden has actively worked to weaken our southern border through radical open border policies that have resulted in the worst border crisis in our Nation's history, turning every community--including mine, the Sixth District of Virginia--into a border community.
Despite the President's and Secretary Mayorkas' desperate attempts to downplay the crisis and tell Americans to deal with it, the facts don't lie.
Under Biden's failed leadership, Border Patrol officials have encountered a record high of more than 5 million illegal immigrants at our southern border, and nearly 2 million of them have been released in the United States by the Department of Homeland Security. At the same time, over 1.5 million known got-aways have illegally crossed the border undetected.
From halting construction of the border wall to reinstituting Obama- era catch-and-release policies and deciding to halt title 42, President Biden has willingly and knowingly failed to protect the southern border and uphold the rule of law.
Now our Border Patrol is underresourced, our national security is jeopardized, and drug cartels are empowered to smuggle deadly fentanyl into our interior.
In fact, Virginia communities are being overrun. According to the Virginia Department of Health, in 2021, Virginia had a 15 percent increase in overdoses from 2020, with synthetic fentanyl being the leading cause of those 2,033 deaths.
This is an invasion, and it must be stopped. House Republicans know that border security is national security, which is why we have brought to the floor H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act.
The Judiciary Committee played a leading role in crafting this legislation, and I am proud of the work we have done to make this the strongest border security package that Congress has ever considered. However, we must get it enacted.
H.R. 2 will secure America's borders by improving the asylum system, deploying urgent resources to the southern and northern borders-- including walls, manpower, and technologies--and ending incentives for illegal immigration.
Mr. Speaker, innocent lives are at stake. Our Nation's sovereignty is at stake. We owe it to the American people to tackle Biden's disastrous border crisis. That starts with passing this legislation, and I urge every one of my colleagues to join us in supporting this bill to address this national crisis. Congratulating State Champions Glenvar High School Boys Indoor Track and Field Team
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Glenvar High School Boys Indoor Track and Field Team on winning the combined class \1/2\ State championship held at Liberty University.
The Glenvar Highlanders won the trophy at the 2-day meet with a score of 58 points, a 9-point victory over the runners-up.
Glenvar's senior Heath Bowker dominated the meet, winning the boys 500-meter dash in 1:08:20.
Highlanders Jackson Swanson, Zach Curfiss, Avone Noel, and Heath Bowker joined forces to win the 4x200 relay in 1:33:25.
Another Highlanders squad of Heath Bowker, Caeden Bowker, Colby Thompson, and Zach Curfiss won the 4x400 relay in 3:29:88.
Congratulations to all these athletes, including Marshall Berryman, Caeden Bowker, Zach Curfiss, Tyler Davis, Charlie Horrell, Bryce King, Nathaniel King, Aldin Smith, Colby Thompson, Aiden Woodie, Josh Woods, and seniors Heath Bowker, Avone Noel, Davis Norman, and Jackson Swanson.
The team is led by head coach Bekka Loder and assistant Madison Bourne.
Congratulations again to these athletes, parents, coaches, and staff on an incredible season and well-deserved victory. Congratulating Northside High School State Championship Boys Basketball Team
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Northside High School boys basketball team on winning the Virginia Class 3 Basketball State Championship held at the VCU Siegel Center.
The win marked the second basketball State championship in school history and the first since 2019.
Northside came out strong, leading by 17 in the first quarter. As the game entered the final minutes, Northside was down by 4, but this squad dug deep to come out with the trophy and pull out the 58-52 victory against Hopewell.
The Vikings' final push was led by double-digit scorers, Lawrence Cole, Cy Hardy, and Mykell Harvey, a trio that combined for the 53 of the Vikings' 58 points.
I extend congratulations to all the players, including Cy Hardy, Xavier Garrison, Nick Crawford, David Via, Mykell Harvey, Michael Pankey, Kai Logan, Jamareay Lavender, Javin Gibson, Will Smith, Kavon Brown, along with special recognition to seniors Ja'Chan Anthony, Lawrence Cole, Jayden Smith, Elijah Trigg. Congratulations also to the head coach, Billy Pope, and assistants Jake Paysour and Josh Malave.
Congratulations again to all the players, coaches, parents, and staff on a historic season.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source