Clay Higgins

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1252, the Department of Homeland Security Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017. The Department of Homeland Security has been routinely criticized over the years by watchdogs at the Government Accountability Office and DHS Office of Inspector General for failing to responsibly manage its major acquisition programs. These programs, which secure our borders, safeguard our cyber networks, protect air travelers, defend our shores, among other critical missions, and cost taxpayers billions of dollars every year. Watchdogs have previously reported how DHS leadership has failed to hold programs accountable to its own acquisition policies. In some cases, these programs have spent billions of dollars of American treasure without having to show what they will ultimately cost, when they will be complete, and what benefits they will deliver to frontline operators. DHS' Under Secretary for Management has not had the force of law to hold these programs accountable until now. My bill establishes a top cop in the Under Secretary for Management as Chief Acquisitions Officer to oversee these billion-dollar programs. It requires thoughtful management of major acquisition programs based on private sector best practices. My bill requires strong accountability measures to oversee major acquisition programs so that these critical tools get into the hands of those defending our homeland on time and on budget. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Tehcnology, Washington, DC, March 10, 2017. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 1252, the ``DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017,'' which your Committee ordered reported on March 8, 2017. H.R. 1252 contains provisions within the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. In order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will forego action on the bill. This is being done on the basis of our mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees, or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation. I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and would request that you include a copy of this letter and your response in the Congressional Record during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Sincerely, Lamar Smith, Chairman.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey. I, once again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1252, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, the rhetoric coming from my colleagues across the aisle and the liberal media regarding President Trump's executive order to strengthen American's immigration policy is harmful to our country and is placing law enforcement professionals at risk due to incited protests. The fact is that President Trump is protecting America by strengthening our vetting procedures. The details of his order clearly state that the allowed level of immigrants from the affected foreign nations is essentially the average rate of the 15 years before President Obama's dangerous expansion of the program in 2016. President Trump's executive order has simply restored sanity to America's immigration policy. It was President Obama who, against all reasonable consideration, put the American citizenry at risk in 2016 by his massive expansion of immigration from nations that are known to produce radical Islamic terrorists. Thank God that President Trump has upheld his oath to protect American lives. This order puts a temporary pause on immigration from seven countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia. The governments in these countries are either hostile to the United States, or presently in great turmoil. As a professional law enforcement officer for the last 13 years, I paid very close attention to the insane policies that put American citizens and American police at risk. I have watched carefully and prayerfully as terror attack after terror attack has shed American blood on American soil, and I have been privy to many jihadist plots that were stopped because of the dedicated courage and skilled law enforcement investigators; the same cops that have been for years maligned, attacked, and murdered across our Nation by Americans incited to violence by dangerously irresponsible rhetoric from the left. It is clear to me that the status quo immigration policy will not control the threat, and I am thankful that President Trump is using his office to reverse the madness that preceded him. America's war against terror should never invoke partisan revolt. We, as members of the people's House, must recognize that the American people are not willing to accept radical Islamic terror within our borders--from immigrants or anyone else--as a fact of American life. President Trump's executive order for a short-term ban on entry from countries that are known to foster jihadists, combined with a systematic review of our immigration and vetting procedures is both necessary and reasonable. Madam Speaker, the time for weakness has passed. Now is the time for strength and courage. Now is the time to reform our border control and immigration policies. President Trump's order is not a betrayal of American values. His actions inspire hope to the millions of Americans who have watched our Nation decline over the past decade, watched helplessly, as radical Islamic horror has gripped the world and, unbelievably, been allowed into our own Nation with wanton disregard. Now is the time for America to embrace its rightful place as leader of the free world. The President's executive order to strengthen our immigration policies are reflective of the timeless wisdom of peace through strength. It protects the American citizenry, preserves American values, reassures America's allies, and ensures America's future.