[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S1306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Border Security

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, early Friday morning, the Senate passed a 
budget resolution to lay the groundwork for border, energy, and 
national security legislation. We considered a lot of amendments from 
my Democratic colleagues, not one of which, interestingly enough, was 
centered on border security and very few of which addressed either 
national security or energy security. But that was, I have to say, not 
terribly surprising. After all, the Democratic leader seemed to think, 
to the very end, that this budget resolution had something to do with 
tax cuts for billionaires, even though it has absolutely and exactly 
nothing to do with tax cuts of any kind. I am not sure if he was 
honestly confused or merely felt that he could achieve something 
messaging-wise by pretending this bill had something to do with 
billionaires.
  But for the record, let me review what this bill was about. As 
everyone here knows, whether they want to acknowledge it or not, the 
chaos that President Biden allowed to rage at our southern border left 
a gaping hole in our national security. That is a hole that President 
Trump and Republicans are determined to close. And since day one of his 
administration, President Trump has been fulfilling his campaign 
promise to crack down on illegal immigration and secure our border.
  In addition to surging support to the southern border, his 
administration has been focused on arresting and deporting criminal 
aliens--from rapists and murderers to child sex predators and dangerous 
gang members--and they have made a lot of progress already.
  But as the President's border czar made clear to Republican Senators 
2 weeks ago, these efforts cannot continue without additional funding 
from Congress. So Republicans are moving forward on legislation to fund 
continued efforts to deport criminal aliens as well as provide other 
necessary resources to secure our border, discourage illegal 
immigration, and restore respect for the rule of law. That was what 
Friday's budget resolution was about.
  And it is too bad that my Democratic colleagues aren't interested in 
joining us on border security legislation, but I will tell you, with or 
without Democrats, Republicans are moving full speed ahead. We owe the 
American people a secure border, and we intend to give it to them.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.