Subterranean Border Defense Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in strong support of H.R. 495 because we need more oversight and information on the threat of tunnels going under our border.

It is a fact that tunnels, clandestine tunnels, under our borders have been an issue for not years but decades, and it is time we take action. It is time that Congress be informed of our progress to prevent such tunnels from happening. That is why I support H.R. 495.

Tunnels are used by transnational criminal organizations looking to make a profit at the expense of our taxpayers. Over the last 30 years, cartels have created illegal and sophisticated tunnels under our border walls to smuggle drugs into our country, as well as money and weapons out of our country.

This bill creates an annual reporting requirement to keep Congress informed on the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to counter illicit cross-border tunnels and hold the bad actors accountable.

This information will help us, Congress, address the issue at the border and let us, as Members of Congress, better respond to the challenges.

Mr. Speaker, I believe this bill is an important step in the right direction. Receiving information from the Department of Homeland Security on an annual basis will improve Congress' efforts to counter illicit cross-border tunnels and hold bad actors accountable. I support this bipartisan piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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