Cole Remarks During Floor Consideration of H.R. 8752, The Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2025 (Submitted For The Record)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my good friend for yielding.

Today’s measure covers the Department of Homeland Security and is critical to defending the homeland and protecting the American people.

From the crisis at the southern border, to the scourge of fentanyl, to the threat of terrorism, the United States continues to face an evolving array of threats. It is more important than ever that we place the Department of Homeland Security in the best position to fulfill its mission.

Today’s bill accomplishes that goal.

It invests the resources we need to secure the nation. In fact, this bill provides sixty-four point eight billion dollars to meet our needs, which is an increase of two point nine billion dollars over last year, and a full four and a quarter billion dollars over the President’s budget request.

This increase is sadly necessary. President Biden’s policies at the southern border have created a humanitarian and security crisis, overwhelming not only the border itself, but also communities across the country. Each month hundreds of thousands of migrants cross the border illegally, many of whom are allowed to remain in the country without consequence. The decision to allow an open southern border has meant that countless wrongdoers – human traffickers, narcotraffickers, and potential terrorists – can enter our country freely.

Enough is enough. Today’s bill will take steps to end this state of affairs. It will provide six hundred million dollars for construction of the border wall. It will force President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas to adhere to the law. It invests resources to halt fentanyl from entering our country and our communities. It makes critical investments in the Border Patrol and the Coast Guard, and it forces the Department of Homeland Security to focus on its core mission: to keep the American people safe.

I applaud Chairman Amodei for his good work in putting this measure together, and I urge all of my colleagues to support its passage.

With that, I yield back.