Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2025
Floor Speech
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Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Chairman Cole, I move to strike the last word.
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Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chair, the gentleman from North Dakota was here talking about what was happening in his State. I suggest for our colleagues to please take a look at the aftermath of what having open borders is doing to our country.
When we look at the significance of not watching our borders, not guarding our borders, not paying attention to our borders, and totally ignoring the fact that these things really exist as opposed to, No, move on, there is nothing to see here, this legislation provides an increase in funding for the Customs and Border Protection, which will allow them to more effectively do their job. This bill addresses the concerns of the often overlooked northern border.
A lot of people say: I don't know why you are concerned about the northern border.
I say: Well, here is a little insight. It is 5,525 miles. It is the longest border between two countries in the world. It is virtually unwatched. That is not the fault of the Customs and Border Protection people. They are overworked, underpaid, and very much underappreciated.
In fiscal year 2022, U.S. Border Patrol agents had 2,238 encounters at the northern border. In fiscal year 2023, that number more than quadrupled to 10,021 encounters. Through the first 7 months of fiscal year 2024, they have already encountered 9,460 individuals. As the summer months continue, that number will continue to skyrocket.
If Members can understand that statement, coming in the northern border during winter is not a good idea. The weather itself is the biggest inhibitor of that. However, it is very porous, it is very open, it is very unwatched, and it is very concerning, and should be, to the American people.
The amazement I have, and this is not about Republicans versus Democrats, this is people coming to represent their district in their part of this incredible country.
This is not a Republican issue. This is not a Democrat issue. This is an issue about who is it that enforces these laws that are already on the books.
When we go home, I hear all the time, you guys better do something about what is happening at the borders. My question always back to them is: Do you know how many laws we have already passed? They say: No, I have no idea. I say: Well, it is the enforcement of the laws that have been passed through the legislature that are going unwatched right now.
We can continue down this road and say: Move on, there is nothing to see here. There is nothing going on. There is really not a problem at the southern border. There is really not a problem at the northern border.
In the meantime, the recipients of these illegals are the States that they end up in. When you hear about what our citizens are being denied because of taxpayer dollars being spent on a group--while we welcome the world to come to America, if your first act upon entering America is to break one of our laws, that is not a good way to start.
When we look at what appropriations is doing, all we are asking for and all we are looking for is funding to protect our own borders.
It is incredible to me that we have to have debate over what is actually taking place.
One side says: We have a lot of concerns about this. The other side says: I don't know what you are concerned about. The problem doesn't exist.
It does exist. It is real. The effect on America is long-lasting, and I don't know what the number is. I have heard it is 10,000, 11,000, 12,000. Most people say: I don't know how many there are, but there are quite a few. The aftermath is the key.
When we were in North Dakota, we listened to two sheriffs who were exhausted because they don't have enough people to watch what is going on in their State. It is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that they are concerned about what is happening.
Now, who is the problem? Where is the problem? How do we fix the problem?
We use taxpayer money virtually everywhere to protect our country. That is the first obligation of the Federal Government to protect the homeland. However, if you don't admit, or if you don't acknowledge that it is taking place, then you can't fix it.
The idea is, if you are going to invest taxpayer dollars, give them a return on that investment. Make sure that we are protecting our very own people first. I welcome people coming to this country because that is how my family got here. They came in the right way, and they participated.
We have an incredible dilemma going on right now, and I want people to think about this: 5,525 miles of border that is virtually unprotected. People talked about the balloon from China that came in. I love the way the administration addressed it. They let it come down through Canada, come down through our country, and when it exited out into the Atlantic Ocean, we shot it down there. That is marvelous, but that is too late.
Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from Nevada for allowing me to speak on this. I would hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle acknowledge what is happening and understand that our first oath of office is to protect the homeland.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment No. 11 Offered by Mr. Clyde
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