Over the weekend, the House of Representatives passed four foreign aid bills for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and other national security supplements. Before the vote, Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) spoke in favor of including a fifth bill securing the southern border he introduced in May. While the bill ultimately failed, the Arizona Congressman gave a stirring speech urging others in the House to vote in favor.
Our border is broken.
Congress is the most powerful body in the world. We must be able to support our allies while we protect our homeland, which is why it is imperative that we pass my border security bill, H.R. 3602, this weekend alongside other foreign aid packages. pic.twitter.com/CsZ1ucmCap
— Congressman Juan Ciscomani (@RepCiscomani) April 19, 2024
Rep. Ciscomani began replying to a statement by Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY) calling his bill "a joke," saying, "I do not know what he finds funny, but nothing about this situation is funny. It is not funny to our Border Patrol agents, not funny to my border community, and it is certainly not funny to the hundreds of thousands of women and children being trafficked by Mexican cartels at our southern border."
Does Texas have a constitutional right to defy Supreme Court on protecting its border?
Additionally, Rep. Ciscomani suggested, "At a time where our world is more dangerous than ever, and our adversaries are emboldened, protecting our homeland is our most critical priority."
However, while the Arizona Congressman voted in favor of the foreign aid package since "attacks by our adversaries have spurred the urgent need to help our allies," securing the border is equally important.
To this end, Ciscomani explained the nature of H.R. 3602, named the End the Border Catastrophe Act, which was a partly modified version of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, which included provisions such as restarting border wall construction, ending catch and release, and reimplementing measures similar to Remain in Mexico and third country asylum agreements.
"The world is looking to America for strength, and our country will continue looking to Washington for leadership. The [Biden] Administration is nowhere to be found and has been nowhere to be found. We must step up and fill the gaps that the White House has left by their weakened foreign and domestic policies and stances," Ciscomani continued.
Moreover, he described the effects of the border crisis in his Congressional district and throughout the country, emphasizing the alarming number of fentanyl overdose deaths that have occurred since 2021.
"We must send a signal that the U.S. southern border is not open. Our adversaries, whether it is the Mexican cartels or the [Chinese Communist Party], will seize any moment to take advantage of American weakness. Each of these packages take a firm stance to stand with our allies in Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine. In turn, my bill takes a firm stance on American strength in our homeland," Ciscomani concluded.
Ultimately, the bill failed 215-199.
