Make no mistake, border security is national security. The open border policies that continue to be championed by the Biden administration and its allies in Congress have yielded the worst border catastrophe on record. As always, the numbers do not lie. Data that was released by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has revealed that in the month of July, close to 200,000 illegal aliens were encountered at our nation’s southern border. This is a 27% increase when compared to June of this year. It remains abundantly clear that border security is needed now more than ever – this issue should be addressed without delay.

Consider the growing number of threats faced by our nation due to these open border policies. In the first ten months of FY23, more than 140 people whose names appear on the terrorist watchlist attempted to enter the United States via the southern border. More than 23,000 pounds of fentanyl have been seized thus far by CBP agents – already having surpassed the total number of overall fentanyl seizures in FY22. According to reporting from the New York Times, cartels are making an estimated $13 billion a year in smuggling illegal aliens into the United States.

House Republicans have taken immediate action to address the collapse of operational control at our nation’s southern border by passing the Secure the Border Act of 2023. This legislation offers targeted solutions such as:

• Ending the failed “catch and release” policy.
  
• Increasing the number of Border Patrol agents.
  
• Forcing the Biden administration to finish the border wall.
  
• Strengthening current law to protect unaccompanied children from human trafficking.
  
• Requiring the Department of Homeland Security to provide increased transparency when detailing the number of illegal crossings.

I’m proud to have voted in favor of the Secure the Border Act of 2023 when it came before the House for a full vote. With a wide-open southern border, our nation’s national security posture is left both weak and vulnerable. I’ll continue to stand up and fight for stronger and more resilient border security measures – the American people deserve nothing less.

ICYMI: Leading The Charge

Recently, Politico profiled my work as the Chairwoman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce and how I’m working to serve students, parents, workers, and job creators. The Biden administration has erected innumerable hurdles to the American Dream, and I remain committed to tearing those hurdles down. Americans should be free to work, build, and educate their children as they see fit – and not have their rights besieged by an intrusive federal bureaucracy. It’s just that simple.

To read my profile in Politico, click here.

New Scam Alert

Artificial Intelligence, otherwise known as “AI”, has certainly become a popular topic within the mainstream media as of late. But did you know that AI is being used by scammers to strip everyday consumers of their hard-earned money and personal information? Unfortunately, that’s the case. In a relatively new scam, AI is being used over the phone to mimic the voices of family members and loved ones – who sound as if they are under duress – to deceive consumers.

To learn more about these scams, and for helpful tips on how to avoid them, click here.

Quote of The Week

"All problems become smaller when you confront them instead of dodging them."

– William F. Halsey

Have a blessed weekend,