WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, voiced his support for passing a border security bill, built off of bipartisan negotiations, which is expected to be voted on by the full Senate on Thursday. The bill addresses some of the most pressing challenges at the Southern border and provides the Department of Homeland Security the resources and personnel to secure our borders. Peters previously voted for this bill in February as part of the foreign aid package, though it failed to pass the Senate.
“This legislation was forged by serious, bipartisan negotiations. But when it first came to the Senate floor this past February as a part of the foreign aid package, my Republican colleagues voted against it and blocked us from even having a debate on this most serious of issues,” said Peters. “They plan unfortunately to do the same tomorrow. They are – once again – refusing to even come to the table to help strengthen our border security and support lawful trade and travel that drives our economy. This bill is not perfect. It is not comprehensive immigration reform. But we must keep working towards a broader approach where we modernize immigration laws and address the immigration system as a whole. But we cannot let that hold us back from taking action right now to secure our borders.”
To watch video of Senator Peters’ speech, click here
As the Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Peters has long pushed for bipartisan measures that will help strengthen our border security – including hiring more U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers and increasing the use of non-intrusive inspection equipment to stop fentanyl from reaching our communities.
Below is the text of Peters’ remarks as prepared for delivery.
“Tomorrow, the Senate will consider legislation that would send critical resources to secure our borders.
“This legislation was forged by serious, bipartisan negotiations. But when it first came to the Senate floor this past February as a part of the foreign aid package, my Republican colleagues voted against it and blocked us from even having a debate on this most serious of issues.
“They plan unfortunately to do the same tomorrow. They are – once again – refusing to even come to the table to help strengthen our border security and support lawful trade and travel that drives our economy.
“This bill is not perfect. It is not comprehensive immigration reform. But we must keep working towards a broader approach where we modernize immigration laws and address the immigration system as a whole. But we cannot let that hold us back from taking action right now to secure our borders.
“This legislation is a meaningful step in the right direction. It would address some of our most pressing challenges on the issue and tackle them head on.
“The bill would allow us to hire more than 2,000 CBP officers, addressing a critical shortage of frontline personnel who safeguard our national security at points of entry every day.
“It would provide $2 billion for advanced screening technology. This would allow CBP to expand use of these tools, helping them to identify illegal cargo and stop dangerous drugs like fentanyl from reaching and poisoning our communities. Fentanyl, overwhelmingly, enters this country through our ports of entry.
“The bill also aims to change the asylum application process – a priority that Congress has been unable to pass for decades.
“Republicans in Congress certainly like to talk about the need to secure our borders. But they use this issue to stoke fear in communities all across the country.
“But when you get a commonsense bill like the bill that we have before us to vote on – a bill that aims to address the problem they claim they want to solve – they simply walk away.
“They talk the talk, but they refuse to walk the walk. We need to walk the walk.
“And that’s why Republicans walked last February. They took orders from Donald Trump when he told them to vote against this bipartisan legislation. They made it abundantly clear: that Republicans would rather campaign on this issue than actually fix it. They would rather throw rocks than solve the problems facing our country. And, unfortunately, it looks like they are going to do it all again tomorrow.
“Americans deserve better. Our border communities deserve better. Our frontline personnel deserve better. The victims of the fentanyl crisis deserve better. Those fleeing often horrendous conditions in their home countries and seeking asylum at our Southern Border, they deserve better.
“And it’s an absolute shame that my Republican colleagues have decided not to act, because these challenges are not going to go away on their own.
“As Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I’ve worked hard to craft bipartisan bills and pass commonsense border security legislation in my committee.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with key Senators on this issue, including Senators Lankford, Sinema and Murphy, who helped broker this deal in the first place.
“And I’m going to keep working with any member of this chamber who is willing to come together, find common ground, and forge solutions to help our country. And I hope some Republicans join me.”
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