[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 12, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H1135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SOUTHERN BORDER

  (Mr. GROTHMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, it is kind of an appropriate buildup to 
what I have to say. Earlier this morning I attended a meeting with 
people who should know what is going on at the southern border. They 
brought up something that I don't think has been in the public yet.
  They brought up the age at which Border Patrol agents are retiring is 
dropping. It is dropping to such a degree, I almost don't believe it, 
but we are told that the average age of retirement has dropped from 57 
to 50.
  So not only are we having a hard time filling new slots, but people 
are leaving the old slots quicker than ever.
  Why is that?
  They get no support from the White House.
  People have said: Does anybody have a suggestion what to do with the 
border?
  I remind America that at the time Joe Biden took office, about 20,000 
people a month were coming here, and now, in December, we were over 
350,000, so about an increase times 18.
  It is not something we have to sit down and talk about and figure out 
what do we have to do. Although I would be happy to talk about it. The 
solution was there under the prior administration.
  We could cut the number of people coming across by 17- or 18-1. 
Instead we are going the opposite direction by poorly treating the 
Border Patrol, and not only having more people coming here, but further 
allowing over 100,000 Americans to die of illegal drugs.

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