June 12, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 98 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages S3329-S3330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            BORDER SECURITY

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on another matter, the Trump 
administration's new agreement with Mexico marks an important 
breakthrough in the ongoing border crisis. It kept harmful tariffs from 
going into effect and cemented new steps to make certain that 
immigration enforcement and the rule of law are priorities on both 
sides of the border.
  But, of course, the Mexican Government was not the only outstanding 
party with an unmet responsibility to address this crisis. Right here 
in Congress we have been waiting for 6 weeks now--6 weeks--for our 
Democratic colleagues to get serious about the administration's urgent 
request for more resources for border security and humanitarian 
efforts.

[[Page S3330]]

  This week's progress with our Mexican neighbors throws the Democrats' 
refusal to act into even starker relief. My colleagues and I have come 
to the floor day after day, week after week, detailing all the evidence 
that our southern border is in a state of crisis. The inflow of would-
be illegal immigrants is unprecedented. Our facilities and our efforts 
to house and care for the individuals we detain are stretched literally 
to the breaking point. In short, the men and women stationed on our 
southern border are running on fumes. They have been charged with the 
tasks that circumstances have made incredibly difficult, and they are 
begging for more funding to keep up.
  As I noticed yesterday, the most recent data show that apprehensions 
last month reached a 13-year high, with higher numbers in every 
category--more individuals, more family units, and more unaccompanied 
children arriving at border facilities that are already at 
overcapacity. The Border Patrol is teetering on the brink. They are 
nearing the point where they will be unable to perform even the most 
basic humanitarian and security functions for lack of resources. This 
is even with funds being diverted away from other important priorities 
at the Department of Homeland Security on a contingency basis.
  So let me say it again one more time. The Department of Homeland 
Security has had to pull money and people off of other critical 
missions just to try and meet the overwhelming surge of human traffic 
down at the border. This is the Department that includes the 
Transportation Security Administration, the Secret Service, and the 
U.S. Coast Guard. Congress's inaction has backed them into a corner.
  The officials who are responsible for protecting the homeland and 
safeguarding these individuals could not have been clearer in their 
pleading to Congress. They could not have been more clear. The Acting 
Homeland Security Secretary has told us already that ``given the scale 
of what we are facing, we will exhaust our resources before the end of 
this fiscal year''--``exhaust our resources before the end of this 
fiscal year.''
  The Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has said: 
``We are begging.'' ``Begging.'' ``We are asking Congress, please help 
us.''
  By any honest reckoning, this constitutes a crisis. That is why 
Americans across the entire political spectrum agree that Democrats in 
Congress need to put aside their allergy to finding an inch of common 
ground with President Trump and finally agree to get something done.
  We know exactly what the holdup has been. The New York Times reported 
in late May exactly why this money didn't make it into the disaster 
funding package despite Republican efforts. ``Democrats balked at 
allocating billions of dollars more toward border security.'' 
``Democrats balked.'' That is the New York Times.
  Around the same time, one House Democrat admitted as much. He told 
reporters: ``In my opinion, we do have to come up with some money. But 
we've got to convince our more progressive friends. . . . `'
  Well, look, I am sorry that a humanitarian crisis is not convincing 
enough to the far left. I am sorry that two separate New York Times 
editorials haven't made an impact on House Democrats either.
  So here we have it. The New York Times editorial page, May 5--
incredibly enough: ``Congress, Give Trump His Border Money.'' That is 
the New York Times saying: ``Give Trump [the] border money.'' They 
didn't listen.
  So several weeks later, on May 23, as I quoted, ``Democrats balked at 
allocating billions of dollars more toward border security.''
  On June 9, a couple of days ago, in the New York Times: ``When Will 
Congress Get Serious About the Suffering at the Border?''
  Here is the situation. The Trump administration and the New York 
Times are on the same side--and House Democrats don't want to take this 
up? Goodness, I am having a hard time remembering the last time the New 
York Times editorial page was on the same side as the Trump 
administration or Republicans in Congress. It is not a common sight, 
but here we are.
  All of us agree that the border crisis is unacceptable and 
unsustainable, but still, House Democrats will not act. Yesterday, even 
my colleague the Democratic leader admitted where this extended delay 
is coming from. He told reporters that the House wasn't for it, but we 
were.
  Yes, I guess that was true, but in any event, apparently that is 
where we are now. The House Democrats are the problem. So if they are 
serious about wanting to resolve this, I hope they will get a grip--get 
a grip on their far-left colleagues--in a hurry.
  So here is what we are going to do. Chairman Shelby has announced 
that the Appropriations Committee is going to vote on a $4.5 billion 
package a week from tomorrow, with more than $3 billion in humanitarian 
funds to expand shelter facilities, increase dedicated care for 
unaccompanied children, and another billion dollars to prop up critical 
security missions. I am grateful to Chairman Shelby for interest in 
this and his leadership, along with the work of Senator Capito and 
Senator Blunt.
  I cannot urge my Democratic friends strongly enough to finally--what 
does it take to convince them to get serious?--find their way to yes.
  House Democrats may want to come down to the left of the New York 
Times editorial page--there is not much space over there--but the rest 
of the country thinks it is just crazy--because it is.
  Partisan theater in the House doesn't improve the conditions in 
border shelters. Melodramatic hearings and Presidential harassment 
don't secure the border. ``The resistance'' doesn't pay the bills. This 
spectacle of opposition for opposition's sake, even on such an obvious 
nonpartisan priority, has been more than embarrassing. It is completely 
irresponsible. It needs to end soon.

  In the coming days, it will. We are going to act in the Senate, and 
we are going to move forward to find the funding necessary to try to 
solve this humanitarian crisis.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida.

                          ____________________