Homeland Security

This Saturday, Americans will observe the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States Army. Our military has evolved much over two and a half centuries through our struggles for independence, to preserve the Union, claim victory in two world wars, defend freedom, and confront terrorism. Ensuring our armed forces can continue to innovate to keep Americans safe, particularly in light of growing threats to global security, is vitally important.

In 2013, China launched its Belt and Road Initiative, a massive global infrastructure development strategy to expand its influence across the globe. Boasting 154 member countries spanning every inhabited continent and investments to date exceeding $1 trillion, the Belt and Road Initiative demonstrates the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ambitions and commitment to establishing itself as a dominant superpower and shaping the world’s future. Through this program China is actively leveraging investment gifts and loans to gain sway in participating nations.

As President Trump’s second term eclipsed the 100-day mark this week, his swift actions to keep Americans safe and address the crisis on our southern border stand out in stark contrast with the failed policies of the previous administration. Executive actions to restore the Remain in Mexico policy, end the practice of catch-and-release, and appropriately classify the terror perpetrated by cartels on our southern border were long overdue.

When President Trump took office, historic inflation and a failure of leadership by the Biden administration had hammered American families and small businesses. Disastrous policies led to our agriculture producers losing ground in export markets, deadly fentanyl flooding across the border, and dangerous criminals and terrorists threatening our communities due to a lack of immigration enforcement. Threats from China, Russia, Iran, and other rogue nations were rising as American influence abroad waned.

Just over a month into President Donald Trump’s second term, his administration is off to an aggressive start. Commissioned with a mandate from the people to restore American prosperity, the president has moved without delay to reassert common sense in the Executive Branch, rein in government overreach, and demonstrate international leadership. House Republicans are matching his stride, and this week, I supported House passage of legislation to set the stage to fulfill his agenda for historic growth and opportunity.

In 2023, nearly 70 percent of the 105,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. involved fentanyl or another synthetic opioid. For the last four years, the lethality of these synthetic opioids was compounded by the failed open border policies of the Biden-Harris administration which allowed these highly potent drugs to flood in and destroy far too many American lives.