[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 14, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H591-H592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
17TH ANNUAL BRENT BERRY FOOD DRIVE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Cline) for 5 minutes.
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 17th annual Brent
Berry Food Drive in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.
Named the Brent Berry Food Drive in honor of their son, Brent, the
family took the initiative to help those in need.
This year, the food drive was the largest food drive in the event's
history, breaking its record in 2022. Members of the community donated
$100,000 worth of food, enough to fill six schoolbuses and two
trailers.
{time} 1045
With the help of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Salvation Army, this
food was distributed to thousands of individuals across the city.
Buck Berry, the lead organizer of this food drive, grew up not
knowing where his next meal would come from. His family received help
from the Salvation Army so they wouldn't go hungry, and that stuck with
him into adulthood, and he felt motivated to provide that same goodness
to his community.
This self-sacrifice shown by the Berry family has impacted the lives
of so many in the Sixth District for 17 years, and I commend them for
their dedication to community service.
Recognizing Kool Kids Diggity Dogs
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize a local hot dog
business in my district, the Kool Kids Diggity Dogs, for their giving
back tailgate at the Roanoke Rescue Mission during the Super Bowl on
Sunday.
The goal of the event was to provide a great meal for the big game
for the homeless population in Roanoke, and they did just that.
The employees of the hot dog business served up free hot dogs, chips,
and drinks to those in need.
In addition to the plate of food, the employees went above and beyond
and provided clothing and hygiene products.
The display of community spirit by the Kool Kids Diggity Dogs stands
as a testament to the civic spirit of the town and as an example of
Jesus' instructions to us in his sermon on the mount: ``And as ye would
that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.''
I want to thank Melvin Ward, the owner of the business, and the rest
of
[[Page H592]]
the volunteers for their selfless service and wish them much success
with their business in the future.
Recognizing Harrisonburg High School Electric Vehicle Team
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Harrisonburg
High School Electric Vehicle Team for being invited to compete in the
2024 UAE Electric Vehicle Grand Prix.
The Harrisonburg High School Electric Vehicle Team has been competing
in the Electric Vehicle Grand Prix as this competition empowers each
constructor to use their knowledge and design and build a car that can
race the most laps within the time span of an hour.
The Harrisonburg car is unique, as it is equipped with built-in data
collection so the team can get feedback in real time to improve
technique.
After 2 years of hard work and dedication to build the most efficient
car, these young engineers were selected to be one of six teams
representing the United States in the International EV Competition in
Abu Dhabi.
The engineers of this car include: Jack Rocker, Joshua Nafziger,
Johanna Mayfield, Monica Espinoza Martinez, Colin Snider, Peter
Johnson, and Davis Bert.
As these young engineers enjoy life in the fast lane, I join all
Americans in expressing our support and hope that we see them standing
at the top of the podium in Abu Dhabi as winners of the Grand Prix.
Secretary Mayorkas has Failed
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, this weekend while Americans were preparing
for the Super Bowl, Secretary Mayorkas appeared on NBC's ``Meet the
Press'' and claimed that the Department of Homeland Security did not
bear responsibility for the broken immigration system in this country.
The Department of Homeland Security website states that the job of
the Secretary is to: counter terrorism and enhance security, secure and
manage our borders, enforce and administer our immigration laws, and
provide essential support for national security.
The Homeland Security Committee outlined for the House how he has
failed in every single category. I commend my colleagues for taking
action yesterday to impeach Secretary Mayorkas and hold him accountable
for his failures.
Let me give an example for each one.
He has failed in his responsibility to stop the influx of terrorists
into this country. Last year, there were 169 people whose names appear
on the terrorist watch list who were stopped trying to cross the
southern border--a record.
He has failed to secure and manage our borders. There have been over
7 million illegal crossings of our southern border, 1.7 million known
got-aways who evaded U.S. Border Patrol, and has empowered and
emboldened ruthless criminal cartels to control our southern border and
poison our communities with enough fentanyl to kill every American. In
2023, CBP seized a record of over 27,000 pounds of fentanyl at the
southwest border.
He has failed to enforce and administer our immigration laws. On day
one, Joe Biden and Secretary Mayorkas ended the Trump-era remain in
Mexico policies, the strongest border security laws implemented in
generations. He also has the authority to use the current laws in place
to secure our border but has neglected any law in the book and this has
led to the crisis that has engulfed this country.
He has failed to provide essential support for national security.
Border Patrol agents have apprehended individuals from more than 160
countries since January of 2021, including from countries that sponsor
terrorism or major U.S. adversaries.
Additionally, between October 2022 and August 2023, CBP recorded
nearly 75,000 encounters of aliens who represent a potential threat to
national security.
He has failed. It is time to remove him from office.
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