This week, in the midst of an illegal immigration crisis at our Southern Border, Speaker Pelosi insisted on passing two amnesty bills that will do nothing but incentivize illegal immigration and make the Biden Border Crisis worse. This is the last thing that the federal government should be doing during a crisis.
Instead, we should be repealing President Biden’s executive orders, completing the construction of our Southern Border wall, and working with state and local authorities to secure our border. We are a nation of laws, and those laws must be enforced. As a result, I voted against both H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, and H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.
The Democrats have consistently shown a lack of urgency and leadership at our border. In fact, President Biden's open border policies created this safety and humanitarian crisis. On day one of his presidency, Joe Biden reversed all of former President Trump's effective border policies. In a series of Executive Orders, President Biden stopped border wall construc tion, reinstitute Obama-era 'catchand-release,' and ended Trump's 'remain in Mexico' policy. Biden has invited this immigration crisis by hanging a "welcome" sign on our country's front door. The Administration MUST take action to end their open border policies and secure our U.S./ Mexico border.
To make matters worse, the Biden Administration has refused to acknowledge a crisis of their own making, contrary to the facts on the ground.
Here is what we know: Border Patrol encountered over 100,000 illegal immigrants at the Southern Border in February 2021. One Texas migrant facility is at 729% capacity. 4 people matching the terrorist watchlist have been arrested at the border. 117,000 unaccompanied migrant children are expected to cross the border in 2021. The Administration's message to illegal immigrants? Come, but don't come now.
President Biden must send a clear signal to the rest of the world that undocumented migrants are never welcome to enter our country in an illegal manner. House Republicans will continue to advocate for border security on a national level. Enough is enough.
This week, House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans introduced their agenda for securing cleaner American energy as a clear and practical alternative to the far-left's Green New Deal. The package will safeguard energy jobs, bolster energy reliability and protect the American energy industry from Speaker Pelosi's irresponsible Green New Deal government takeover.
Included in this comprehensive package is my bill, H.R. 575, the Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act, which will remove barriers to the permitting of cross-border pipelines and electricity transmission.
We cannot stand by as President Biden continues his attack on the American energy industry. That’s why House Republicans are committed to developing energy and climate solutions that will help modernize our infrastructure while keeping the lights on at a price families can afford.
This comprehensive energy plan will promote American energy independence and strengthen our competitive edge abroad. My origi nal legislation will be an important component of this plan that will cut red tape and streamline the energy production process to promote job creation and economic growth. More information on my bill, H.R. 575, can be found here.
On Thursday, I signed on to House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy's resolution to remove Rep. Eric Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee due to his ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Despite Rep. Swalwell's documented relationship with a suspected Chinese operative, Speaker Pelosi decided to keep him on the House Intelligence Committee for purely political reasons.
House Republicans recognize that Rep. Swalwell is a national security threat. This is why we are committed to taking every action to remove him from his committee assignment as a matter of national security. As a new member of the House Intelligence Committee, I look forward to advancing legislation that will protect national security and keep America first with regard to foreign policy endeavors.