The Real Cost of an Open Border: How Americans are Paying the Price
We are witnessing heartbreaking tragedies in our communities each day due to the neglect of the southern border by the Biden Administration. This crisis has resulted in the lives of our neighbors being lost. Local businesses and livelihoods of farmers and ranchers are also at stake due to the high amounts of theft, trespassing, and damage to livestock or crops.
I held a joint Homeland Security hearing on the Human Cost of Biden and Mayorkas' Border Crisis this week as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence to examine the cost of the open border.
Each day the southern border remains open under the Biden Administration, we risk the safety of our communities and national security. We need to secure our southern border and bring logical solutions to fix this crisis.
To watch my full opening statement, click here or watch below.
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Elisa Tambunga Testifies before House Homeland Security Committee
We were fortunate to have Elisa Tambunga testify at the hearing. She is a mother who lost her 71-year-old mother and her 7-year-old daughter when they were killed in a car crash in Ozona, Texas, when a human trafficker smuggling 11 illegal aliens crashed into them during a high-speed chase.
The Tambunga family is living the consequences of the Biden Administration and Secretary Mayorkas' failure to secure the southern border. I will continue to be a strong voice to protect our communities from this peril. May we all continue to hold the Tambunga family in our prayers as they navigate the loss of Emilia and Maria.
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The Threat of Terror Attacks Remains
I led an official Homeland Security subcommittee visit to New York this weekend to examine and learn more about the counterterrorism and law enforcement capabilities of the New York Police Department. We also had the opportunity to tour the Nassau County Police Department Center for Training and Intelligence, and the 9/11 Museum at Ground Zero — which was very moving.
They are doing incredible work combatting terrorism not just in New York, but across the country. We were told that the absence of a large-scale attack doesn’t mean the absence of a threat. The NYPD reported that they have thwarted over 50 large-scale terror attacks in NYC since 9/11, and over half of those were only since 2017.
It was startling to hear that the threat of Al Qaeda is continuing to get worse and that Tehran has lost all control and bad actors have continued acting alone.
We also heard of terrible targeted attacks on police officers, which only underscores the importance of strong support for law enforcement from all levels of public officials.
It was a privilege to be joined by my wife and daughter, and New York Representatives: Congressman Mike Lawler and former NYPD detective Congressman Anthony D'Esposito — who fought crime on the streets of New York for more than a decade.
Thank you to all of our law enforcement heroes! We are grateful for your service in protecting Americans.
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Americans Deserve to Hear what the Biden family Has Done
I joined Fox Business to discuss the status of the ongoing migrant crisis, the House Republican-led probe into the Biden family, and the NYPD's counterterrorism efforts.
To watch the full interview, click here or watch below.
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Lowering Military Aviation Cancer Rates
This week I reintroduced the Aviator Cancers Examination Study (ACES) Act, with the bipartisan support of Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19). The ACES Act will help advance research on any correlation between aviator service and cancer rates to better assist veterans and active service members.
Pilots and aircrew have been found to have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer and melanoma, with possible links to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and testicular cancer. The ACES Act directs the Secretary of the VA to study cancer incidence and mortality rates among aviators and aircrew who served in the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.
As a former fighter pilot, I know first-hand the risks that airmen and women take every day when they step into the cockpit. After putting their lives on the line in the line of duty for their country, airmen and women deserve assurances that they will be taken care of and not put in undue danger. The VA must completely understand any links between aviation and cancer incidence to properly care for our service members. I’m grateful for the partnership of my friend Rep. Jimmy Panetta in introducing this legislation that allows us to take better care of our veterans.
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Unpacking the CCP Influence in Latin America with Bret Baier
I joined Bret Baier's Special Report this week with Rep. Wiley Nickel to recap the bipartisan Congressional Delegation trip I recently led to Latin America, which provided a direct look into the epicenter of the very real threats to our homeland security stemming from this region.
During the visit, we met with national security and law enforcement leaders in Brazil, Colombia, and Panama to not only discuss the rising threat of the Chinese Communist Party’s influence in the region, but to investigate the evolving and sophisticated threat of transnational criminal organizations and the migration crisis that these countries are experiencing as a result of the Biden administration’s and Secretary Mayorkas’ failed immigration policies.
Notably, we visited the Darien region of Panama where we toured the first migrant village called Bajo Chiquito that migrants encountered in Panama after the grueling journey through the Darien jungle.
The visit afforded us the opportunity to witness the CCP influence in South America and understand what's happening in the drug trade, human trafficking, and how we are being affected here at home. We must secure our border. I will continue to hold the Biden Administration and Secretary Mayorkas accountable for their actions and inactions. The human cost, both to Americans and migrants alike, is far too high to continue to willfully ignore because doing so is politically expedient.
To watch the full segment, click here or watch below.
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Delaware Judge Strikes Down Hunter Biden's Sweetheart Deal
We likely all saw the news about Hunter Biden this week. On Wednesday, the President's son was scheduled to appear in court and plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges and an illegal gun charge. Thankfully, Delaware District Judge Noreika refused to rubber stamp Hunter Biden’s ‘sweetheart plea deal.' He plead not guilty in court after Judge Noreika struck down the original deal.
Hunter should not be receiving preferential treatment under the Biden family name.
House Republicans, along with brave whistleblowers, will continue to expose the Biden’s international influence schemes and the government agencies that are impeding investigations into the Biden family.
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Stopping Biden from Listing the Lesser Prarie-Chicken as Endangered
Yesterday, I voted to nullify the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service rule listing the Lesser Prairie-Chicken as an endangered species, which the Biden Administration advanced to the detriment of agriculture and energy producers and private conservation efforts already underway.
Make no mistake—the administration’s rule designating the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered species has nothing to do with protecting it. It is merely a vehicle to shut down oil & gas production in the Permian Basin, which will also make it more difficult for farmers and ranchers to feed our country. We can protect important species without devastating our local and rural communities.
I’m proud that the House and Senate passed legislation to nullify this rule and urge future passage of my legislation to reform the Endangered Species Act and prevent the administration from holding our community hostage with radical environmental mandates.
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The Energy Question with David Blackmon
I joined David Blackmon with 'The Energy Question' to discuss the proposed endangered species listing of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard.
Watch here or below to see the full interview.
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The United States is looking weak to our adversaries
I joined Cats and Cosby to discuss my recent tour of the New York Police Department's counterterrorism efforts across the country. Securing our nation is of the utmost importance to me.
To listen to the segment, click here.
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National Intern Day
Our summer interns wrapped up their internships in the Washington D.C. office this week while we celebrated National Intern Day. Throughout the summer, they worked on various projects and tasks serving constituents of TX-11. Good luck with all of your future endeavors!
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Upcoming Town Halls
I will be in the district hosting multiple Town Hall events in August. I hope to see you there!
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Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for daily updates.
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Rep. August Pfluger
Member of Congress
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