[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 26, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H1282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1045
                          BORDER COMMON SENSE

  (Mr. Mann of Kansas was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, since President Trump was sworn in, illegal 
crossings have plummeted at our southern border.
  This past February saw the lowest level of illegal crossings ever 
recorded in our Nation's history, down 94 percent from February 2024 
and 96 percent from the all-time high under the Biden administration. 
Along the Del Rio Sector of the border, there was a 98.8 percent 
decrease in apprehensions compared to the highest day under President 
Biden.
  For 4 years, President Biden and radical progressive activists tried 
to blame President Trump and congressional Republicans for the crisis 
at the Nation's border. It turns out the only thing we needed all along 
was a President who doesn't run from common sense and isn't afraid to 
enforce the law. Thankfully, President Trump is not afraid.
  Just last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced 
that the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, will resume construction 
of President Trump's border wall. Border Patrol agents have told us 
again and again that a physical barrier on our southern border is a key 
deterrent to the trafficking of humans and illicit drugs by the Mexican 
cartels across our southern border. Yet, on day one of his Presidency, 
President Biden stopped construction of the border wall. President 
Trump is gladly reversing this madness and making our border secure.
  President Biden's failed leadership continuously put innocent 
American lives at risk as nearly 400 individuals whose names appeared 
on the terrorist watch list attempted to enter the country and gang 
members from MS-13 and Tren de Aragua invaded the interior of the U.S.
  Some of these monsters took the lives of innocent Americans, like 
Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray. While President Biden barely 
expressed empathy for the lives he put at risk, President Trump took 
action, deporting these violent criminals and gang members from the 
start of his Presidency.
  On November 5, 2024, 77 million Americans, including myself, voted to 
restore commonsense border policies to our Nation's Capital. The 
President is providing that common sense, and I am deeply grateful to 
have his strong leadership back in the White House.
  I thank President Trump for standing for our country and securing our 
border. Promises made, promises kept.


                          Honoring Craig Beam

  Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of an American 
patriot, Craig Beam. I congratulate Craig on his well-deserved 
retirement from the U.S. Marshals Service.
  When most Americans hear of a fugitive on the run, their natural 
instinct is to protect their loved ones within and avoid coming across 
the wanted criminal at all costs. Craig's approach to protecting his 
family and loved ones is a little different. When danger or bad actors 
present themselves to our communities, Craig has run toward them and 
worked swiftly with his fellow marshals to remove these criminals from 
the streets.
  In August 1993, a convicted marijuana grower walked into the Frank 
Carlson Federal Building in Topeka, Kansas, for his sentencing. What 
was a normal day in Topeka suddenly turned into gunfire and tragedy as 
the convict's car and his person were covered with explosives and pipe 
bombs.
  As building staff hid in fear, Craig and his fellow law enforcement 
agents put their fear aside to get innocent civilians to safety. In 
all, five Kansans were injured that day, and a court officer, Gene 
Goldsberry, was tragically killed. Deputy Marshal Beam and three of his 
fellow marshals were recognized for their heroism with the Director's 
Distinguished Service Award.
  Serving in law enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service is a 
selfless calling, and for the last 34 years, Craig Beam has done it 
effortlessly. Not many people openly run toward danger and put their 
safety at risk for the sake of their communities, but for Craig, it is 
second nature.
  I thank Craig for his selflessness and for 34 years of dedication to 
keep Kansas safe. I congratulate Craig on his retirement.

                          ____________________