WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) issued the following statement on H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act:

"Yesterday, after careful consideration, I voted against H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act. I am glad Republicans are taking this issue seriously. In fact this is one of the first pieces of legislation this Congress that I believe to be a real effort to fix a serious issue. I applaud the attempt.

I do support certain provisions of the bill such as providing millions more in resources to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and assessing whether Mexican cartels — that are smuggling poisonous fentanyl into our country — should be targeted as terrorist organizations. These are the just some of the ideas we should support on a bipartisan basis.

Unfortunately, I do not believe the major aspects of this bill will appropriately address the pressing issues at our southern border, and in fact believe they might introduce further chaos and confusion into our immigration system. 

There are many people who would like to come, work in and contribute to this great country. My own grandmother and father were two of them. And our economy, businesses, and communities would benefit from having these people. We need to be able to make that happen while also preventing illegal activity and dangerous crossings at the border. 

Yesterday’s legislation largely neglects ports of entry, where most illegal activities like drug smuggling occur. That’s why I have called for adding 500 border patrol agents at ports of entry and investing in technology to search vehicles for fentanyl. 

This bill also limits the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to use new technology for processing asylum claims. We should focus on modernizing our asylum system and working with our allies in the hemisphere so we can share the responsibility of providing safety for refugees and asylum seekers.

I am hopeful that this bill is an opening in a conversation Washington has been putting off for too long. We must work together to find a bipartisan solution to address the serious immigration and border crisis our country is facing. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on securing our border and improving our broken immigration system."

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She is the recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award which “recognizes members who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward” and the Congressional Management Foundation’s 2022 Democracy Award for best Constituent Services in Congress.

###