Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

Floor Speech

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Ms. JACOBS. Madam Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding.

Unauthorized entry on a military defense installation property or National Defense Area is already illegal under Federal law, and there is no need to make it a felony.

This is something that actually happens all the time in San Diego because our military bases are literally right in the middle of neighborhoods, and to be honest, there is not great signage. In fact, many military bases do not have obvious or well-marked perimeters, especially in rural or desert areas.

This provision would apply to DOD properties such as military housing and areas and ranges that don't have a traditional gate and often are not completely fenced off. This means that someone who is hiking or off-road driving in the vicinity of range property could find themselves in violation.

On top of that, Madam Chairman, since President Trump approved the land transfer to DOD, most of the southern border is now considered an installation, making it even harder to distinguish if you are on a military base or not.

We shouldn't punish people who accidentally make a wrong turn, tourists who get lost, or anyone who follows bad GPS directions with a felony charge that can result in prison time, a loss of voting rights, and barriers to employment, housing, and education.

Moreover, making it a general intent crime means that it would apply to anyone who voluntarily or willfully entered a military base without requiring a prosecutor to prove an actual intent to commit a crime or do harm.

Law enforcement and the military already have sufficient tools to deter and respond to intrusions without felony charges, and this isn't a proportionate punishment, especially if no one is harmed.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this short-sighted amendment to protect my constituents who so proudly support our military community in San Diego.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Chair, indeed, it is so clear. One of the greatest achievements of President Donald Trump has been to secure our border.

Five years ago, I went to the border. I was at Del Rio, and I asked the border security how many people on the terrorist watch list have crossed.

They said: Congressman, we are not allowed by this administration to tell you that. You are not supposed to know. The American people are not supposed to know how many terrorists have come into the United States.

The good news is that with the leadership of Chairman Mike Rogers and others, we had hearings and were able to identify several hundred terrorists who came across. Only one highly skilled terrorist could conduct mass murder in our country, so it is so important that we maintain our border.

President Donald Trump is doing that. We need to reinforce this and send a message to people around the world that they just can't pick and choose coming into America to threaten American families.

Madam Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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