Cole Remarks at FY26 Homeland Security Bill Subcommittee Markup

I would like to first thank Chairman Amodei, Ranking Member Underwood, and all the members of the subcommittee for being here today. Keeping Americans safe and secure is a fundamental duty, and the measure we are considering this evening supports that mission. 

There is no denying that in today’s evolving risk landscape, protection and preparedness are not optional—America must lead. The Department of Homeland Security plays a central role in that effort, and we are committed to providing the resources needed to safeguard the homeland on every front. While cartels and bad actors push at our borders, foreign adversaries and terrorists remain intent on hacking our systems, challenging our infrastructure and networks daily.

Our defense against these threats starts with the brave men and women of DHS who stand on the front lines. Under new leadership, they’ve been empowered to fully carry out their work. The Trump Administration has made it clear that protecting America is not negotiable—and this White House has taken immediate action to realign security priorities and enforce the rule of law. 

We’ve watched our southern border go from chaos to closed. The decisive actions and common-sense measures of the Trump Administration have led to a historic turnaround, driving illegal crossings to record lows and ensuring the removal of dangerous criminals. The bill before us makes key investments that sustain the Trump turnaround on the border by providing: Funding to sustain 22,000 Border Patrol Agents; Increasing the level of ICE detention beds to 50,000; and Funding border security technology to detect illegal immigration and stop the flow of fentanyl that poisons our communities. 

Additionally, to counter the growing threat of Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific, investments in the Coast Guard – including 3 Fast Response Cutters, a service life extension to deploy an additional Indo-Pacific Support Cutter, and increased funding for operations, staff, support, and maritime engagements in the region – are prioritized. Finally, the bill provides critical support for cybersecurity technology and makes strategic cuts to unauthorized missions to refocus the agency in charge of protecting critical federal networks from nation-state adversaries in cyberspace. 

I want to thank the staff on the subcommittee, both the majority and minority, for their hard work on the product before us. I look forward to the consideration of this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.