[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 45 (Thursday, March 9, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H1214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NO AMERICAN IS SAFE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Strong) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STRONG. Madam Speaker, I rise because no American is safe.
  The United States Secretary of Homeland Security says that the 
American border is secure. The American people know better.
  It is for these reasons I traveled to our southern border with 
several of my colleagues from the Committee on Homeland Security. Two 
adults attempted to climb the U.S. border fence the day we got there. 
They fell and were critically injured. American taxpayers are paying 
the bill.
  Hospitals are inundated with non-U.S. citizens. They are not paying a 
dime for care.
  Schools and teachers are attempting to teach students that are here 
unlawfully. Many don't speak English, and they are delaying the 
education of those who do.
  Illegal aliens attacked a Border Patrol agent while we were there. 
They are trying to kill American law enforcement agents. Under this 
administration, these agents in many cases are instructed to respond by 
firing pepper balls.

  Some schools are placed on lockdown 4 to 10 times a week because 
Border Patrol agents are chasing drug dealers and human smugglers that 
have crossed the border and entered their elementary and middle school 
campuses.
  Cartel members are recruiting 11- to 14-year-old children to drive 
vehicles to smuggle illegal aliens through multiple States and 
counties.
  Practically everyone crossing illegally claims asylum. Think about 
it, they are coming from Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Colombia, Haiti, 
Cuba, El Salvador, Iran, and, yes, they are coming from China, too. 
They are flying, in many cases, to the southern border to cross 
illegally.
  Our meeting at the border port of entry had to be delayed because a 
mule tried to smuggle 70 pounds of cocaine right in front of 12 United 
States Congressmen.
  The American people are being told by the Secretary of Homeland 
Security that our borders are secure. There is nothing further from the 
truth. While heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, and human smuggling 
are flowing into our country at alarming rates, America is under 
attack.
  The same laws in effect today were in effect when Donald Trump was 
President of the United States of America. You can talk about him all 
you want, but tell the facts. He sent them back and protected America.
  Two weeks ago, President Trump's Border Patrol chief, Rodney Scott, 
gave us a brief. He said the problem is not with the laws; the problem 
is with this administration because they are not enforcing the laws 
that are already on the books. It is time to return these that are 
invading our country at the southern border to the country of their 
origin immediately.
  On average, 300 United States men, women, and children are dying 
every day by overdose. EMTs, paramedics, nurses, doctors, and emergency 
rooms see it every day. America is under attack.
  On our visit to the border, we met with Texas National Guard, United 
States Homeland Security, Border Patrol, Customs and Immigration, 
Homeland Security Investigations, and the Texas State Troopers.
  Not one of these agencies or officials we met with could say that the 
U.S. border was secure. Not one.
  Drug overdoses are a common occurrence in every county and city in 
America. This threat to America does not discriminate; rich, poor, 
Black, White. This is not a Democratic issue, nor is it a Republican 
issue. It is an American issue. Our country is under attack.
  No American is safe, and the American people deserve better.
  During our trip, I was reminded that on his first day in office, the 
President terminated the emergency declaration at the southern border 
and halted border wall construction.
  Over the last 2 years, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol have 
encountered over 4.7 million illegal immigrants trying to enter our 
country. That does not include the 1.2 million that have evaded Border 
Patrol. Yet, the administration tells the American people that the 
border is under control.

                              {time}  1030

  If our border is secure, then why over the last 2 years has the 
administration continued to send troops to our border? That alone 
signals to every American that we have a problem.
  Why are they stopping border wall construction, which is an important 
first step in securing our border? I will introduce legislation to 
address this question.
  My bill will resume border wall construction and ensure the President 
cannot withhold resources while sending our troops to the front line. 
Our country is under attack.
  I am proud to introduce this legislation and other measures to ensure 
that if the administration expects our troops to defend our border, 
then we expect the administration to provide every tool, resource, and 
means of support to each of our brave men and women protecting our 
homeland security.
  My fellow Americans, our country is under attack.

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