Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOYCE of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the package of appropriations bills under consideration.

As chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee, I thank the full committee chair, Ms. Granger, for her leadership in assembling funding packages that reflect strong Republican priorities.

The crisis at our southwest border has raged under the Biden administration. More than 2 million migrants crossed the border each of the last 2 years. That is not sustainable.

So this bill makes key investments to secure the border, expand detention, improve technology, and deter illegal immigration.

Under this bill, we provide $500 million to reach an end strength of 22,000 border agents consistent with H.R. 2.

To counter fentanyl, this bill provides $305 million for nonintrusive inspection equipment at our Nation's ports of entry.

This bill ensures ICE has the detention capacity it needs to enforce the law by providing 41,500 detention beds.

Without this funding, ICE would have released more than 10,000 current detainees who pose a threat to our communities.

This bill also provides the Coast Guard with two Fast Response Cutters to counter Chinese aggression in the Pacific. Additionally, this bill fully funds the Coast Guard's military pay raise, keeping our promise of supporting our troops.

Simply put, this bill ensures that men and women of the Department of Homeland Security who work tirelessly on our behalf have the resources and tools they need to protect this great Nation.

It reflects strong Republican priorities, cuts wasteful spending, and prioritizes securing the border.

We cannot surrender this progress for a wasteful and harmful government shutdown.

I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

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