June Border Numbers Released | Congressional App Challenge

.Dear Friend,

Customs and Border Protection released June's border encounter data, and it’s not good. Total nationwide encounters were 205,019, with more than 130,000 of those encounters occurring along the southern border. Perhaps more concerning, though, northern border apprehensions between ports of entry totaled 3,600 – more than quadruple the 844 apprehensions in June 2023.

The House passed H.R. 2 to secure the border more than a year ago and the Senate should have already considered it. It’s the only comprehensive border security legislation that has passed either chamber in this Congress.

But even without H.R. 2, the president has the authority to enforce the laws on the books or simply reverse his damaging executive orders to secure our border and our nation. Along with the sky-high inflation that is crushing Kansans, our open border is a top concern, and I will continue to push for reforms that secure the border and keep our nation safe.

Sincerely,

Member of Congress

.In mid-July, the Ways and Means Committee, on which I serve, held an important hearing on medical innovation and how to encourage more of it. We engaged directly with Americans making the next generation of life-saving medicines and the patients benefiting from those breakthroughs to see how Congress can better encourage medical innovation in America.

In my remarks, I highlighted the critical role of research and development in advancing these breakthroughs – something I’m continuing to push for by promoting a return to immediate R&D expensing. You can watch my full remarks below.

.With a few weeks left in the summer, students living in or attending school in the 4th District are encouraged to participate in the Congressional App Challenge. Each year the House of Representatives hosts this Challenge for middle and high school students to showcase their creativity and technical skills. Students can work independently or on a team of up to four people to submit an app they created in any programming language and on any platform. Students have until Oct. 24 to submit their app. For more details, visit my website at estes.house.gov/app.

.Did you know that one Kansan has served as vice president of the United States? Charles Curtis served as vice president to Herbert Hoover from 1929 to 1933. He was born in North Topeka in 1860 and entered politics in 1892 as a U.S. Congressman. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 14 years and the U.S. Senate for 20 years. Curtis held many leadership positions prior to becoming vice president; he was Senate President pro tempore, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Whip and Chairman of the Republican Senate Conference, and remains the highest-ranking enrolled Native American who ever served in the federal government.