Cole Remarks at FY25 Homeland Security Bill Full Committee Markup (For The Record)

Today’s Homeland Security appropriations measure demonstrates a commitment to protecting Americans and the homeland.

As threats continue to evolve, it is necessary to target vulnerabilities, implement the most effective safeguards, and support our people on the frontline. The bill before us does just that.

From land and sea to air and cyber, we are investing in resources to secure the nation. This is an imperative so important that we have provided sixty-four point eight billion dollars to meet our needs. That marks an increase of two point nine billion dollars above last year’s funding, and a full four and a quarter billion dollars above the President’s Budget Request.

Let me repeat that last point. This bill actually increases funding above the President’s Budget Request.

We have no choice but to act on this level. For the last three years, President Biden’s policies at the southern border have been disastrous. Each month hundreds of thousands of individuals cross the southern border into the United States, with no end in sight. This has resulted in a humanitarian and security crisis that has overwhelmed communities across the country.

Today’s bill takes clear steps to end this crisis, including providing six hundred million dollars for construction of border wall and taking steps to force Secretary Mayorkas to adhere to the law. It invests in resources to remove illegal aliens from the United States and combat fentanyl, support our border patrol agents, and bolster national security by providing additional money for the Coast Guard to deploy new vessels. Finally, it forces the Department of Homeland Security to focus on its core mission: keep the American people safe.

I thank Chairman Amodei and Ranking Member Underwood for their hard work, and I look forward to advancing this measure to protect our nation.