[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 6, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H827-H828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONSEQUENCES OF OPEN BORDER POLICIES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, a British 
container ship was sunk by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the Gulf of 
Aden.
  This attack is yet another example of how, under President Biden's 
weak and ineffective leadership, our adversaries have been emboldened 
and our allies left vulnerable.
  Last year, President Biden agreed to release more than $6 billion to 
Iran, effectively providing more funds and resources to the world's 
largest state sponsor of terrorism. This is unacceptable. It shows 
that, yet again, President Biden is unwilling and unable to provide the 
leadership that Americans want and that Americans need.
  When U.S. ships were threatened with sustained rocket attacks, the 
Biden administration waited weeks to respond, only further emboldening 
these terrorist groups to continue their aggression.
  It is time to return to leadership that embodies President Ronald 
Reagan's call of peace through strength. The American people simply 
cannot afford a President that fails to keep America safe.


                  Confronting a Growing Border Threat

  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, in his State of the Union 
speech tomorrow night, President Biden will be forced to confront the 
growing threat posed by an open and porous southern border.

[[Page H828]]

  In the month of January, more than 176,000 illegal immigrants 
attempted to enter the United States. That was on the heels of the 
month of December when more than 300,000 illegal immigrants again 
crossed the southern border.
  Because of the open border policies championed by President Biden and 
enacted by Secretary Mayorkas, these illegal immigrants were bused to 
our major cities. The consequences of this decision have been felt in 
nearly every community in the United States.
  Schools have been converted into shelters for illegal immigrants. In 
places like New York City and Denver, government services have been 
scaled back, and city employees, like librarians, have seen their hours 
cut in order to provide handouts to people who are in the United States 
illegally.
  At a time when more than 300 suspected terrorists have attempted to 
enter the U.S., President Biden has thrown open our gates and 
encouraged this crisis to continue.
  Ending catch and release, giving our Border Patrol agents the tools 
and resources that they need, and resuming construction of the border 
wall are vital to keeping our Nation safe.
  It is time for President Biden to reverse his disastrous border 
policies and put a stop to this crisis.

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