Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to reduce Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas' salary to $1.

Since President Biden has taken office, we have witnessed an unprecedented invasion on our southern border, causing 6 million migrants to flood across our border, and including the northern border.

The district that I represent in upstate and central New York contains most of the New York border region. Secretary Mayorkas has ended numerous successful border policies by the Trump administration, including the remain in Mexico policy, building the border wall, and ending the catch-and-release policy. As a result, all of our communities have been transformed into border communities, including New York.

Near my district in Erie County, two migrants were charged, one for rape and one with a sexual assault. In nearby Rensselaer County, a migrant has been charged with murder.

These migrants were not vetted, in spite of the false claims of Governor Kathy Hochul, who claimed they were vetted. Over 100 individuals on the terror watch list have successfully crossed the southern border, putting all of our communities at risk, including those in New York.

Secretary Mayorkas is willfully derelict in his duties or is completely incompetent. Either way, he should no longer be paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for failing to perform the basic obligations required under our Constitution to protect American citizens and to provide effective border security and control of our border.

I was honored to co-lead this amendment with my friend from Texas and my colleague, Representative Chip Roy. I urge my colleagues to join us in support of this amendment and to finally hold Secretary Mayorkas accountable. I am hoping Mr. Roy will join me and speak on behalf of this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I would say that just this past month we hit a record for migrant crossings in American history of over 304,000. Despite repeated pleas and actions by me and my colleagues on this side of the aisle, Mayorkas refuses to change course and actually secure our border.

Secretary Mayorkas has completely failed to do his job and has completely doubled down on his failed policies. While Congress ultimately needs to impeach and remove Secretary Mayorkas, defunding his salary is a great first start.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Chairman, the Holman rule still exists, and we are exercising our right under the Holman rule.

Mr. Chair, may I inquire much time I have remaining.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy).

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Chair, may I inquire much time I have remaining.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Chairman, let me just be clear to everyone out there. The Democrats in New York are against this policy put in place by Joe Biden and Secretary Mayorkas. Even Mayor Adams of New York City has blamed Joe Biden. Our current Governor Kathy Hochul has done a 180 and now she blames Joe Biden. Even former Governor Cuomo is now blaming Joe Biden for this migrant crisis in New York.

Mr. Chair, 82 percent of New Yorkers, in a recent poll, blame Joe Biden and Secretary Mayorkas for this migrant crisis in New York, which is having devastating consequences on our security, and is harming our taxpayers.

Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to join Congressman Roy and I in reducing Secretary Mayorkas' salary to $1. I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source