[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 7, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S37-S38]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           NATIONAL SECURITY

  Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I rise today to talk about the threats 
to America's security and our Republican effort to fight back.
  On New Year's Day, 14 Americans were killed in a heartbreaking, 
deadly act of terrorism. Dozens of our fellow Americans were seriously 
injured as well in the carnage. These are people who were just 
celebrating the new year.
  Their attacker was a terrorist. He flew an ISIS flag. It was off the 
back of his truck. As a result of the terrorist attack, he destroyed 
families, destabilized a community, and broke the hearts of so many, 
many Americans.
  The shock of this attack is matched only by the urgency of the 
message that it sends to our country. The message is this: It is time 
to restore America's security and America's strength. Lives depend upon 
it.
  To keep America safe, we need to refocus our government on the 
priorities that matter to the people of this Nation. We have seen this 
in realtime in terms of the danger of the distorted priorities of the 
last administration. Their priorities were a wide open border, a woke 
Pentagon leader, a weaponized and distracted FBI, a feckless foreign 
policy, and, of course, a weak President.
  The current President's absence of leadership has made America and 
the world less safe. In 4 short years, our enemies have been 
emboldened; they have grown stronger; they are more aggressive; and 
they are more dangerous.
  America once worked to deny terrorists a safe haven. Now the 
terrorist strongholds are back. Today, terrorists control Afghanistan. 
They control parts of Syria. They attack American troops from bases in 
Yemen. And this is only part of it.
  Today, we face a serious security situation right here inside the 
United States. The New Orleans terrorist appears to have been 
radicalized while here in America. Over the past 4 years, over 300 
individuals on the Terror

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Watchlist--our own Nation's Terror Watchlist--have crossed into our 
country boldly and illegally. Those 300, they are just the ones that we 
know about.
  We also know that Iran--the world's No. 1 state sponsor of 
terrorism--is actively funding anti-Jewish protests on our college 
campuses. President Biden did nothing. Instead of showing strength, he 
kept our borders open and continued to ignore Iran's aggression.
  Weakness in the White House put us here. Returning to strength will 
help lead us out. In 13 days, our weak and wavering President will be 
replaced by a President who is respected for strength and for boldness.
  We have seen failure up close. Americans will now get a very good 
look at what strong leadership looks like once again.
  President Trump and Senate Republicans will act for Americans' 
safety. The Senate is going to work to confirm President Trump's strong 
nominees through a fair and speedy process. It is important for the 
President to have his national security team in place as quickly as 
possible. Especially right now, personnel is policy, and President 
Trump's team is ready to act.
  The President's nominees are not a return to business as usual. No, 
not at all. They are motivated. They are skilled. They are committed to 
the safety and security of every American. Our national security 
depends on confirming them. The New Orleans attack proves it.
  To my colleagues, I would remind each and every one of them that the 
Senate's power of advice and consent is no excuse to delay and deny or 
to try to search and destroy.
  Last month, a sleeping woman in New York City was set on fire in the 
subway. She died. Her killer was an illegal immigrant. He was deported 
under President Trump and snuck back into this country under President 
Biden. Since 2023, he has lived--this illegal immigrant criminal 
murderer--in taxpayer-funded shelters here in this country. That is 
what we have seen the last 4 years.
  The current President's actions invited and allowed 10 million people 
to cross into our country illegally. Our cities are overrun and 
overwhelmed.
  It was weak border policies that got us here, put us in this 
position, and it is strong border policies that are going to get us 
back to safety. That means funding a border wall, deporting illegal 
immigrant criminals, and restoring successful policies such as ``Remain 
in Mexico.''
  Our goal is to empower President Trump to enforce the law.
  Republicans are also going to work to restore deterrence through 
strength and then what we have seen as the politicization of our 
military. Without a military focused on lethality, we can't be strong.
  If these actions are taken, peace and safety, security and strength 
are not just possible, they will be coming very soon.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Scott of Florida). Without objection, it 
is so ordered.

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