House Republicans Continue to Prioritize Border Security

Throughout this Congress, I have continually fought to end President Biden’s open border policies. On May 11, 2023, I joined my House colleagues in voting to pass H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act. This bill is the strongest border security measure to pass either chamber of Congress in modern history. This bill has been sitting on Chuck Schumer’s desk for nearly a year.

On April 27th, the House again had the opportunity to pass meaningful border security, but sadly Democrats rejected this measure. H.R. 3602, the End the Border Catastrophe Act, would resume border wall construction, increase the number of Border Patrol agents, reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy, and end catch-and-release policies, all very similar to provisions in H.R. 2. Additionally, this measure added language to reimburse states for costs they have incurred attempting to secure the border because the Biden Administration failed to do so.

Unfortunately, while all House Republicans supported this commonsense measure, the bill failed to get the two-thirds vote required to pass as a suspension. All but five Democrats voted against this effort to secure the border.

Shining a Light on President Biden’s “Secret” Migrant Importation Program

While securing the border continues to be a top priority, another significant abuse of our immigration system by the Biden Administration is currently taking place.

A recent FOIA request revealed that the Biden Administration has flown roughly 400,000 inadmissible individuals to the United States from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This action by the Biden Administration happens without notifying the public or elected officials. 

A subpoena from the House Homeland Security Committee revealed that in addition to the 400,000 already in the United States, more than 1,600,000 inadmissible individuals are waiting for the Biden Administration to grant them entry.

Last week, I introduced H.R. 8209, the Migrant Flight Accountability Act, to require the Department of Homeland Security to notify Members of Congress and Governors three days prior to a migrant flight landing in their area of jurisdiction.

The notification must include information regarding the individuals on board the flights, where they originated from, how long the individuals will be in the U.S., the type of security screening performed, and the amounts and types of Federal resources spent on inadmissible individual resettlement, transportation, or relocation.

While federal courts have upheld the ability of the President to use his executive authority, President Biden and his Administration should not be giving the green light to individuals who would not be permitted entry into the United States through legal means, and offer no plan for ever removing these individuals from the United States. That is why I introduced the Migrant Flight Accountability Act to expose this abuse of the parole system.  To learn more about this important legislation, click here.

Recognizing the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base’s Childcare Facility Program

As the Month of the Military Child came to a close last week, I spoke on the House floor to recognize the work of the 110th Wing in Battle Creek. Because most childcare facilities are not open on the weekend, the 110th Wing sought a community partnership that led to the establishment of the second ANG Childcare Facility Program. Today, the program provides childcare for over 20 children of military members during regular and rescheduled drills.

This positive change has improved military readiness and performance on the base by reducing stress related to childcare. It is great to see the 110th Wing lead this innovative approach to improve the lives of military families stationed here in Southwest Michigan and elsewhere across the nation. 

Thank you to the men and women serving at Fort Custer. I am proud to serve as your representative in Congress, and I will continue to introduce and support legislation to uphold the base's integral role in the defense of our nation.

You can watch my speech on the floor of the U.S. House below.

Supporting First Responders in Kalamazoo County

On May 3rd, I joined Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard C. Fuller III, members of the Kalamazoo County Road Commission, and AT&T for a tour of the new road commission building and demonstration of the FirstNet-connected vehicle, outfitted with the latest technology to support first responders.

Both the sheriff’s office and road commission will utilize FirstNet for their communications to help provide better services and public safety. FirstNet is the only network built with and for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community. 

FirstNet is a critical tool that will enhance the ability of our first responders and public works to communicate during emergencies and in times of crisis. It was great to see first-hand how Kalamazoo County will utilize this technology to better serve the community and save lives.

Welcoming the Dutch Ambassador

Last week, I had the pleasure of welcoming Ambassador Tazelaar from the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Holland to mark the beginning of Tulip Time! It was wonderful to have the Ambassador in West Michigan to discuss the deep ties between our two nations.

National Day of Prayer

Last week, on the National Day of Prayer, I was proud to join a group of people at Centennial Park in Holland to pray for our community and our nation.

Thank you for reading this edition of the Huddle. If you or someone you know needs assistance with a federal agency, please don’t hesitate to contact my office in Holland or in Portage!