Dear Friend,

President Biden stunned Americans this week. When asked why he had not yet visited the border, the President snipped, "there are more important things going on."

This comment is nothing short of a complete disregard for a humanitarian crisis occurring on our border. In September, we ended fiscal year 2022 with over 2.4 million encounters at the border — more than five times higher than the number we saw in FY20, which ended just a few months before President Biden was sworn in. 

The President’s comment was made in complete disregard for the mental and emotional toll his border crisis has caused for our law enforcement on the border. While the President brushed off the crisis, my colleagues and I have offered legislation to provide behavioral health training, which could help address the worrying suicide rate among border patrol agents who are overwhelmed by the weight of the border crisis. His remark reminds me of what I heard from law enforcement agents during my trip to the border — that they believe this Administration has abandoned them. 

In the new Congress when Republicans have the majority, we will not abandon our border agents or any of our law enforcement officials. 

National Bible Week

This week, I spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in honor of National Bible Week to recognize the important role the Word of God has had in leading our nation. You can watch my speech at the link or read the transcript below.

President Ronald Reagan once said, “Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.”

The Bible has provided our nation with wisdom and guidance over our history.

Within this chamber, Members of Congress have gathered to debate and ultimately decide the most significant challenges to our country..

And since 1962 we have worked under those simple yet powerful words — the words etched behind me — “In God We Trust.”

Without God’s direction, we would have faced those challenges alone..

As we face the future, we must never forget that our nation was founded on Biblical principles, recognizing that we are blessed to live in a country where we can worship freely, and we must work to see that we always remain “one nation under God.”

Proverbs 3:5 and 6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not into your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

My hope is that all Americans will continue to live by the truth and wisdom found in the Word of God.

Thank you and may God continue to bless the United States of America.