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There’s chaos on our southern border. It’s a humanitarian and national security crisis that threatens the safety of Americans and it's caused by the Biden administration’s weak rhetoric and progressive policies.
In May more than 180,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at our southern border. CBP recently reported this new 21-year high, marking the third consecutive month of record highs.
Vice President Harris, the point person tasked by the president to solve this crisis, hasn’t even been to the border to see first-hand the challenges our CBP agents are experiencing as a result of these unsuccessful policies.
So far, she has failed to follow her own advice that “if you want to fix a problem, you have to go to where the problem exists.”
The president’s budget is another gut punch to the men and women on the front lines who are tackling this problem. It denies an increase in funding, as noted by the Washington Post, for the Department of Homeland Security and slashes CBP funding.
This crisis was avoidable. The Trump administration’s policies were succeeding at enforcing our immigration laws, disincentivizing unlawful entry and securing the border, but the Biden executive orders have reversed those effective measures. Instead, the Biden administration has failed to demonstrate a willingness to get this problem under control.
There is a solution:
- Enforce our immigration laws
- End sanctuary city policies that offer safe-havens for illegal immigrants
- Build a border wall; and
- Eliminate the failed ‘Catch and Release’ policy and restore the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy.
It’s time to face reality and do what needs to be done to secure our border, end this crisis and protect the rule of law.
Biden’s Bait-and-Switch Tax Proposal
President Biden claims that only two percent of family farms and ranches will be impacted by his proposed tax increases. The administration has yet to show its tax increase work and prove that assertion – because it's false. A recent analysis of proposed changes in tax policy confirms this point and shows the exact opposite, which would have a devastating impact on the next generation of family farmers and ranchers. As I wrote in this column for Fox News, our agricultural producers shouldn’t be left to shoulder the burden for this plan.
Strengthening Arkansas’s Role in National Defense
We can be proud of Arkansas’s expanded role in support of our national security. We’ve been working with members of the congressional delegation to secure new flying missions and demonstrate the unique capabilities and assets in the Natural State. The recent selection of Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith to host the Foreign Military Sales F-35 Squadron and the Singapore Air Force F-16 Squadron is good for our community, state and country. In addition, the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base was selected as the new home of the Air National Guard’s C-130J Super Hercules training program. These new missions will enable Arkansas to continue playing a crucial role in our nation’s defense well into the future.
Flexibility for Summer Meal Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program was created to ensure students who receive free or reduced-price breakfast or lunch during the school year have access to healthy and nutritious foods when school is out. We must modernize the programs and make them more efficient and flexible so we can reach all children in need. That’s why I’ve introduced the Hunger-Free Summer for Kids Act of 2021. Updating these federal policies will better serve the 300,000 Arkansans who rely on these programs for meals.
Expanding Benefits for Veterans
The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee recently advanced a comprehensive package to improve Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service in uniform. The legislation includes a provision I introduced that would eliminate barriers to benefits for veterans exposed to Agent Orange who served in Thailand during the Vietnam War-era. This is an important step in supporting the promises we made to our veterans and ensuring they get the care and benefits they have earned.
Preparing for Travel Abroad
As summer travel picks up, my office has been inundated with calls from Arkansans with passport problems. There is increased demand on the U.S. Passport Service, causing a delay in the processing of documents. Travelers should plan for a routine application to take 10 to 12 weeks and an expedited passport to take four to six weeks. Unfortunately, at this time officials cannot guarantee processing of last-minute requests for tourist and business travel, so be sure to check your passport's expiration date so there is sufficient time to apply or renew it to keep your plans from being disrupted.
Mark Your Calendar
Delta residents will have an opportunity to get medical, dental and optical care services, at no cost to patients, through a joint Department of Defense (DoD) and Delta Regional Authority (DRA) initiative July 9-17 in Lake Village. This mission will provide vital health care services for Arkansans while simultaneously offering practical experience for military medical professionals. I welcome the DoD and the DRA’s partnership that will promote health and wellness for residents of southeast Arkansas.
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