Capital District Times

On the anniversary of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, passing the House of Representatives, key figures in the House GOP leadership - Conference Chairwoman Stefanik, Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Scalise, and Majority Whip Emmer - have issued a joint statement from Washington D.C.

The statement criticizes President Biden's handling of the southern border over his term. It reads: “Over the past three and a half years, President Biden has ceded operational control of the southern border to drug cartels and has welcomed untold millions of inadmissible aliens into our country. Because of Biden‘s policies, traffickers, smugglers, persons on the terrorism watchlist, and other dangerous criminals are now crossing our border every day. Meanwhile, fentanyl poisoning has become a leading cause of death in America, and our own innocent citizens, such as Laken Riley, have been murdered by violent criminals who the Biden Administration released."

In response to these issues raised by President Biden's policies at the southern border, House Republicans passed the Secure the Border Act last year. The act aims to increase the number of border patrol agents and resume construction of the border wall. It also seeks to end Biden’s policy of catch-and-release and stop Mayorkas’ abuse of CBP One. Furthermore, it proposes banning taxpayer funds from flowing to NGOs moving illegal aliens around the country.

However, Senate consideration for this legislation has been stalled for a year due to Senator Schumer's refusal to bring it up for a vote. The GOP leaders argue that this delay is exacerbating an ongoing catastrophe at the southern border. Their statement concludes: "It is wrong and it is costing American lives every day. On this anniversary, we demand the Senate bring H.R. 2 up for a vote. The American people deserve a government that actually cares about their safety and security and will uphold the rule of law.”