January 8, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 3 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H279-H280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            BORDER SECURITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Stevens). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 3, 2019, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser) 
is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
  Mr. MEUSER. Madam Speaker, it is with a great sense of honor, 
respect, and patriotism I make my first address on this floor.
  This government shutdown needs to be resolved. The people know it is 
up to this Congress to do it and to do so in short order.
  Despite the high level of political morass we must wade through in 
these first days of the 116th Congress, I continue to believe that this 
Congress can do things better and actually work together to get things 
done for the American people.
  The need exists to advance and improve our border security, as well 
as correct aspects of our illegal immigration laws.
  The problem-solving, however, starts with securing our borders. Our 
borders are a serious problem. We all know this. The data is 
indisputable by anyone who seriously reviews the information.
  We have hundreds of thousands entering our country illegally every 
year, and our Border Patrol agents cannot manage the situation with the 
resources and tools Congress has appropriated.
  There is a cost and a plan to make our borders properly secure. 
Congress has the responsibility to provide the right level of funding 
so border security staff can, in fact, do their job and so our country 
has lawful immigration.
  The experts at Homeland Security say this cost is $5.7 billion. There 
are many in this Congress who will not vote for this, but less than 7 
years ago, these same Members voted for border security funding which 
did, in fact, include a physical barrier.
  Politics has no place in this serious matter. The border agents, 
including Chris Cabrera of the National Border Patrol Council, 
emphasizes that a wall, or a barrier, is an essential tool. We here in 
Congress must provide the means so Border Patrol can do their job.
  I, myself, do believe in a policy of high fences and wide legal 
gates, but before we can talk about legal gates and deal with the 
issues such as DACA

[[Page H280]]

and extended work visas for agricultural workers, we must secure the 
border.
  The people want us to work together for our country, not for 
ourselves or our political parties. Let's not continue to let the 
people down. Let's show that this Congress can do things better.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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