Nicolas LaLota

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in honor of Police Officer Thomas Joy from the Suffolk County Police Department to recognize his achievement in receiving the 7th Annual U.S. Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This achievement is not only a testament to Officer Joy's incredible exceptional skills and bravery but also to his relentless dedication to making Suffolk County a safer place for all of us to live, work, and raise our families. Officer Joy has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the challenges facing our community and a remarkable ability to address them through proactive and community-oriented policing. His work embodies the principle that public safety is not just about enforcement but also about building trust and fostering collaboration between law enforcement and the residents they serve. Suffolk County could not be prouder to have Officer Joy amongst its ranks. In New York and on Long Island, we know the value of a strong and dedicated police force. Officer Joy's efforts to combat crime, protect vulnerable individuals, and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods have left an indelible impact on our community. We owe him a debt that we could never repay. On behalf of the people of Suffolk County and the 1st Congressional District of New York, I offer my heartfelt congratulations and deepest gratitude to Officer Thomas Joy for his outstanding service and his unwavering commitment to justice and public safety. His contributions to Suffolk County serve as an inspiration to us all, and I am proud to honor his remarkable achievements here today.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate Detective Edwin Hugh of the Suffolk County Police Department, who has been honored with the 7th Annual U.S. Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This prestigious recognition highlights Detective Hugh's outstanding contributions to community safety and his unwavering commitment to making Suffolk County a better place to live. His achievements exemplify the core values of law enforcement: integrity, dedication, and an unrelenting drive to protect and serve. Detective Hugh has proven himself to be a leader in law enforcement, building trust with residents and strengthening public safety across Suffolk County. Whether pursuing justice for victims of crime or engaging directly with the community to foster partnerships, Detective Hugh consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty. Suffolk County is a safer place because of Detective Hugh's hard work and steadfast dedication to better our communities. His efforts to combat crime, reduce harm, and improve the lives of residents reflect his dedication not only to the badge he wears but also to the people he serves. He understands that effective policing is not just about enforcing laws--it is about creating an environment where families feel secure, businesses can thrive, and communities can flourish. On behalf of the people of Suffolk County and the 1st Congressional District of New York, I extend my sincere congratulations to Detective Edwin Hugh and my heartfelt gratitude for his exceptional service. His work serves as a model for law enforcement professionals across the country, and his contributions to Suffolk County are a source of pride for us all.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, I regret to have missed this vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 492.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for his leadership. Mr. Chairman, the southern pine beetle, a pest no larger than a grain of rice, has emerged as one of the most significant threats to our forests in the eastern United States. Nowhere is this issue more evident than in my home district on Long Island, where Suffolk County has been hit especially hard. Since the pine beetle first appeared on Long Island in 2014, it has destroyed approximately 5,000 acres of forest, including an estimated 800 acres this year alone. The pine barrens region in Suffolk County is suffering devastation, as countless once-green trees have turned yellow and orange, clear evidence that they are dying. This damage doesn't just affect the trees. It threatens an ecosystem that is home to dozens of animals and plants, including endangered species. These forests are crucial for preserving clean drinking water, and if we don't take action now, we risk irreparable harm to this vital resource. State officials have been working tirelessly to manage the spread of the beetle through surveillance and the removal of dead and infested trees. However, this problem is growing exponentially due to warmer winters and drought conditions, and we need a more comprehensive approach to understand and combat this threat. That is why my amendment here today is so important. Mr. Chairman, my commonsense amendment would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive study on the impact of beetle infestations in the northeastern region of the United States. The detailed study will investigate the causes, effects, and potential solutions to this growing problem, with a particular focus on our forests in the northeast. This amendment is about more than just studying a pest. It is about protecting the natural heritage of the northeast, securing clean water, and ensuring the health and resiliency of our forests for future generations. A comprehensive study will help us understand why these beetles have moved north and how we can mitigate their impact. It will provide the scientific foundation needed to implement effective management strategies, preserve our forests, and maintain the ecological balance that is so vital to the region. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Westerman for his support on this amendment and his leadership on the Fix Our Forests Act, and I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment.

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman).

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, I regret to have missed the following votes. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 426; YEA on Roll Call No. 427; YEA on Roll Call No. 428; YEA on Roll Call No. 429; NAY on Roll Call No. 430; and YEA on Roll Call No. 431.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, hate has no place on Long Island. Recently, we Long Islanders witnessed a disturbing act of vandalism and hate targeting the BAPS Temple in Melville, a sacred place for countless peaceful, family, and faith-focused Hindus who proudly call Long Island home. In response, I joined more than a dozen elected officials and religious and community leaders who stood together to send a clear message: Acts of hate and intolerance will never be tolerated in our communities. America's strength comes from our foundation of religious and political freedom, and when these core values are attacked, then we unite as one. I am proud of the bipartisan and united effort shown in standing with the BAPS community of Long Island in this difficult moment. Together we will always rise to defend the principles that bind us as Americans and reject hate in all its forms.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, you break it, you bought it. That is not a Republican saying. That is not a Democrat saying. That is just a widely accepted premise in our culture: You break it, you bought it. Let me tell you, Mr. Chair, nobody broke the border like President Biden and Vice President and border czar Kamala Harris, along with the mayors and Governors of sanctuary cities and States. President Biden broke the border when he repealed 64 very effective Trump-era policies. Biden repealed remain in Mexico. Biden applied lower asylum standards. Biden stopped border wall construction. Biden even repositioned border agents away from the border to be in migrant processing centers behind desks just to process more and more migrants into the country. By reversing Trump's very effective policies, President Biden and border czar and Vice President Kamala Harris have created a wide-open border for illegal immigration and asylum abuse. The immediate consequence of these actions was a surge in illegal border crossings, reaching levels we have never seen before. Now, every State, including New York, nearly 2,000 miles away from the southwest border, has become a border State. While the Biden-Harris administration has done its damage, sanctuary city jurisdictions are only exacerbating this crisis even further. When cities like New York adopt sanctuary policies and forbid local law enforcement from coordinating with Federal officials on enforcing immigration law, they send a huge signal to those who are in our country illegally or those who would break our asylum laws. The message is: Come to New York. Come because we will not enforce Federal immigration law here. The migrants sure got the message. Mr. Chair, 100,000 migrants have passed through New York City since the spring of 2022. At the height of the crisis, there were over 64,000 migrants in the city's care, all at the taxpayers' expense. New York's Governor recently proposed $5 billion more to address New York's migrant crisis at the same time she proposed cutting from our kids' public schools. Yet, New York State officials did absolutely nothing to change New York City's and New York State's sanctuary policies. Despite the uncontrolled crisis across the five boroughs, New York City has refused to change its sanctuary policies, the very policies incentivizing illegal immigration. Those illegally crossing the border or who feign asylum to be paroled into the interior of our country know that if they make it to New York, they will be given taxpayer-funded food, shelter, healthcare, transportation, and social services. Hardworking American taxpayers will be the ones footing the bill, Mr. Chair. If we do not put an end to these sanctuary city policies, that number will continue to balloon, costing families even more, all during a time of significant financial hardship and record inflation. New Yorkers, and indeed all taxpayers, should not have to bear this burden. Schools are at capacity. Our cities are overrun. Our law enforcement is stretched to the limit. Our social services are being overwhelmed. Our hospitals are overburdened. Local budgets are strained to the breaking point. Homeless Americans are having trouble accessing shelter services. Migrant children, many unaccompanied, are being exploited by smugglers, traffickers, and violent gangs, and they are being put to work illegally or, worse, abused and trafficked. Instead of changing course, cities like New York have the audacity to turn around and demand more money from taxpayers from nonsanctuary jurisdictions to fund their failed sanctuary policies. Today, Mr. Chair, enough is enough. My No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act is about accountability. It is about ensuring that cities and States that refuse to enforce Federal laws are not rewarded with Federal dollars related to their defiance. Let the policymakers from sanctuary jurisdictions hear us loud and clear: If you incentivize illegal immigration in your city, knowing full well the migrants will come, don't come to the Federal Government for a bailout. Let me make something also abundantly clear: This legislation will prohibit Federal funding from going toward fueling the root causes of the migrant crisis. In no way, Mr. Chair, can this legislation be construed to harm school systems, law enforcement, and other benefits for American citizens. Those entities will remain eligible for Federal funding under this legislation. Mr. Chair, America is like a ship taking on water. My colleagues from the other side of the aisle, their solution is to merely build a bigger boat. My solution, Mr. Chair, is to plug the hole causing the crisis in the first place by cutting off Federal funds that would only exacerbate the crisis. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for his support of my legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, a Marine Corps veteran, for yielding. Mr. Speaker, there is an obvious link between liver fluke disease and our Vietnam veterans' service in that war, but the VA won't cover their care. My bill would help fix that and do right by our Vietnam veterans. Data from multiple studies clearly demonstrate Vietnam veterans have a much greater chance of contracting, suffering from, and dying from the liver fluke parasite, yet the VA does not help veterans who are fighting liver fluke disease. That is wrong, Mr. Speaker. The correlation between the liver fluke parasite and service in Vietnam is obvious. In 2018, the Northport VA Medical Center conducted a first-of-its-kind study using a 50-veteran sample size. The initial results of that study highlighted three things: a substantial need for greater study of this issue; two, the development of standardized treatment options; and three, broader accessibility of care for veterans at VA facilities across the country. That study was 6 years ago and could have been justification enough for the VA to start covering affected Vietnam veterans, but the VA insisted on another study. A second study was ordered. After years of delays, supposedly due to the pandemic, a more recent study finally concluded in 2024. The 2024 study affirmed what so many Vietnam veterans have been saying for years, that there is indeed a link between the liver fluke disease and service in Vietnam. Specifically, the study in which Marine Corps veterans participated demonstrate that there is a 30 percent greater risk of mortality from this liver fluke disease for marines who served in the Vietnam war theater as compared to marines who served elsewhere. Mr. Speaker, you would think these findings, coupled with the 2018 findings, would be justification enough for the VA to start covering affected Vietnam veterans. Yet, after multiple in-depth studies which corroborate the link between our veterans' service in Vietnam and the rare liver fluke disease, the VA still says these studies still are not enough. To fight the VA's ambivalence towards these Vietnam veterans, I am urging all of my colleagues to support my bipartisan legislation, H.R. 4424, the Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act. This act would require the VA, in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to conduct a third study to determine the prevalence of liver fluke amongst the Vietnam veteran population. If the VA won't take action, then we will continue to force them to confront the facts until they come to the same conclusion as the rest of us. Our Vietnam veterans are dying every day, and we do not have the luxury of time. Too much time has passed already. We went through a similar and terrible situation with our blue water Navy veterans and Agent Orange. Let us not make the same mistake with liver fluke. I thank Chairman Bost and Ranking Member Takano for their leadership and support of this critical legislation. Together, we can make sure that our Vietnam veterans get the care, recognition, and support they so rightfully deserve.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, the United States of America, the greatest nation the world has ever known, is facing an unprecedented crisis as deadly drugs like fentanyl and xylazine devastate our communities. It is imperative that our leaders here in Congress work together to confront this epidemic and save lives. Last year, there were over 107,000 drug overdose deaths. Of those deaths, over 81,000 involved opioids. Based on prior years' statistics, we estimate that fentanyl was responsible for nearly 90 percent of all synthetic opioid-related deaths. That is almost 73,000 fentanyl deaths in just 1 year. These staggering statistics are not just numbers. They represent real lives lost, real families shattered, and real communities that are forever changed for the worse. It is the biggest cause of death of Americans ages 18-45, and it does not discriminate based on race or economic class. It kills in each of our districts--170 fentanyl deaths per congressional district per year on average. Even more troubling is xylazine. Known on the streets as tranq, it is now being mixed with fentanyl, making the drug even more deadly and more difficult to detect. We must do more, more to get these dangerous substances off our streets and ensure our law enforcement officers have every tool and resource necessary to combat this crisis effectively, which is why I was proud to introduce the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act, a bipartisan bill that will do just that. This legislation is not just a response to the ever-growing threat of illicit narcotics like fentanyl and xylazine. It is a critical step in our fight to protect our communities and to save lives. Too many Americans have experienced the devastation caused by illicit drugs like fentanyl and xylazine. These substances have infiltrated our neighborhoods, torn families apart, and claimed countless lives across our great Nation. From Long Island to Los Angeles, no community has been spared, and for far too long, illegal drug smugglers have made it their mission to poison our streets with these illicit substances. Every day, our law enforcement officers, those on the front lines of this battle, are forced to confront these threats with often outdated and inadequate tools. That is why this legislation is so important. The act will authorize the Department of Homeland Security to conduct critical research and development, testing, and evaluation of state-of- the-art detection equipment. This legislation will also empower Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies with the best technology available to detect and intercept even the smallest amounts of these dangerous substances. This legislation will also create an important new statutory responsibility for the Science and Technology Directorate at DHS to focus on three key areas: one, developing portable detection equipment; two, improving technologies to separate complex mixtures; and, three, leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning. Let me be clear. This is not just about equipment and technology. This is about the lives that we have a duty to protect. It is about ensuring that a child does not lose a parent to a lethal dose of fentanyl. It is about preventing the next wave of overdose deaths that leaves yet another community in mourning. It is about making sure that every law enforcement officer has the tools they need to safely and effectively do their job. I thank my friend from the other side of the aisle and fellow Homeland Security Committee member, Congressman Lou Correa, for partnering with me in introducing this critical bipartisan legislation and Senators Cornyn, Ossoff, and Sinema for their partnership in the Senate in this vital legislation. I also thank the coalitions of organizations representing law enforcement professionals, public health advocates, and local governments across the Nation that have endorsed this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act. Let's give our law enforcement the resources they need, let's protect our communities, and let's save lives.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, for so many communities across Suffolk County and beyond, the Long Island Sound is so much more than a body of water. It is a way of life that has sustained and provided for our communities for generations. The Long Island Sound is a cornerstone of our environmental makeup, a driver of our local economy, and a hub of recreational and cultural activities for millions of people, Mr. Speaker. For decades, the sound has faced numerous environmental challenges, including pollution, habitat loss, and the impacts of a changing world. These challenges have threatened the health of the sound and the well- being of the communities that rely on it. That is why it is incredibly important that, later today, we will be voting on and hopefully passing my legislation, the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023. This critical piece of legislation seeks to reauthorize vital programs that have been essential in preserving and restoring one of our Nation's most treasured natural resources, the Long Island Sound. My legislation addresses these challenges head-on by authorizing robust funding and strategic initiatives to improve water quality, restore habitats, and enhance the resilience of the sound's ecosystems. This bill also reauthorizes crucial programs that have already made significant strides in reducing nitrogen pollution, protecting wetlands, and promoting sustainable development along the shoreline. This legislation is not only about environmental protection but investing in the future of our communities and the people who rely on the sound. By continuing to safeguard the sound, we are supporting the local economies that depend on tourism, fishing, and other maritime industries. We are also ensuring that future generations can enjoy the natural beauty and recreational opportunities that the sound offers. I thank my colleague from across the aisle and the sound, Congressman Joe Courtney of Connecticut, members of the bipartisan Long Island Sound Caucus who have worked tirelessly on this legislation for more than a year, including my good friends Representatives D'Esposito and Garbarino, and Chairman Graves and Chairman Westerman, whose leadership was instrumental in getting this legislation to the floor. Our collective efforts reflect a shared commitment to the health and prosperity of the entire region. I also thank the various stakeholders, environmental organizations, and community leaders who all pitched in and who have tirelessly advocated for the protection and restoration of the sound, especially my friends at Save the Sound and Citizens Campaign for the Environment. Mr. Speaker, the Long Island Sound is an irreplaceable natural asset, and we have to protect it. This legislation provides the tools and resources necessary to continue the important work of restoring and preserving this vital ecosystem. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill and reaffirming our commitment to the Long Island Sound.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Madam Chair, I regret that I missed this vote. Had I been present, I would have voted Aye on Roll Call No. 296.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the need to end antisemitism in this generation. I strongly condemn antisemitism in all its forms and I will continue to stand firmly and proudly to end discrimination against, and persecution of, the Jewish community. Three years ago on Yom Hashoah, Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day, members of the Jewish community in New York and New Jersey came together to form the End Jew Hatred National Campaign, aimed at creating a day of empowerment leading into Jewish American Heritage Month and recognizing the Jewish community's contributions to American history. I am proud of the work they have accomplished so far. For millennia, the Jewish people have sustained their shared religious, cultural, and ethnic identity and traditions in the face of enslavement, persecution, genocide, segregation, and discrimination, and all manner of adversity. Despite their adversities, Jewish Americans have made indelible contributions to New York and the United States' culture, history, and social fabric, strengthening the country and helping shape all areas of American life. While we have made significant strides to end the discrimination of Jews, the Jewish community has continued to be subjected to antisemitism and hate, including discrimination in the workplace, at school, and in public spaces. The horrific tragedy of October 7th, and the war that has carried on since has led to a massive uptick of antisemitism. This antisemitism and hate has manifested itself as both discrimination and violence targeting Jews for their identity and seeking to deny their shared identity, including their connection to their ancestral homeland. This can go on no more. We must stand as a unified front and combat antisemitism wherever it rears its ugly head. As long as I am serving in Congress, I will always support our Jewish community and work in a bipartisan manner to end antisemitism once and for all. On behalf of the First Congressional District of New York, I thank the End Jew Hatred National Campaign for their work and reaffirm my commitment to ending antisemitism and honoring our Jewish community.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, without the uniformed volunteers of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, our Nation's borders and waters would be less safe than they are today. As the grandson of a coastguardsman and the stepson of a Coast Guard auxiliarist, I rise today to recognize the Coast Guard's selfless service to our Nation's waters by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and to celebrate the 85th anniversary of their valiant service. In 1939, as our Nation approached the Second World War, Congress established a U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, composed of unpaid, volunteer U.S. citizens who owned motorboats and yachts. In 1941, 2 years later, Congress created a military reserve and renamed the original volunteer reserve to the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Since that historic era, the Coast Guard Auxiliary has played an ever-increasing role in supporting the growing and evolving missions of the Coast Guard, missions that protect the Nation, our waterways, and all who operate on them. For 85 years, Coast Guard auxiliarists have notably offered their time, efforts, and personal resources to support Coast Guard missions, whenever and wherever needed. Coast Guard auxiliarists have earned our Nation's profound gratitude and admiration by demonstrating extraordinary dedication to advancing the National Recreational Boating Safety Program, the welfare of the entire Coast Guard family, and in securing the public trust. The Auxiliary has also demonstrated unparalleled resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging stronger, ready to accomplish new tasks, and determined to achieve new heights. In recent years, they have expanded their support activities, delivering critical medical and cyber support to Coast Guard operations alongside their standard of work of promoting recreational boating safety, increasing public education in safe and responsible boating practices, and helping to reduce overall boating accidents and fatality rates. Our Nation has witnessed the Auxiliary's extraordinary dedication when its uniformed volunteers provided disaster response and recovery support following Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022, along with their unprecedented contributions to humanitarian missions at our Nation's southwest border in Operation Vigilant Sentry. I am proud to represent a district full of Coast Guard installations, including Eatons Neck, Shinnecock, and Montauk. The dedication of the sailors at these stations is crucial for maintaining the safety and security of our waters, for which our community is profoundly grateful. I am proud to represent our Coasties and their families in Congress and serve on the Homeland Security Committee, where I can best serve their interests and promote their well-being. Mr. Speaker, we can never thank these brave men and women enough for all they do to help keep our communities safe. Please join me in paying tribute and honoring the Coast Guard Auxiliary, whose 85th anniversary is on June 23.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Madam Speaker, girls' sports should be reserved for biological girls. For decades, Title IX has provided young women the opportunity to compete in college athletics. However, the Biden administration's recent actions threaten these very principles. As the father of three girls and a husband to a former Division I athlete who is currently a PE teacher, I am appalled by this administration's assault on Title IX. Allowing biological men to compete in women's sports denies young women the chance to develop physically and mentally as athletes and teammates. This undermines decades of progress and gender equity in sports. Fair competition is crucial to maintaining athletic integrity and the rights of female athletes. Without proper protections, girls may face unfair disadvantages, discouraging their participation and hindering their dreams. Upholding Title IX safeguards the future of girls' sports, ensuring every young athlete can thrive and succeed.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, the cartels have more control over the U.S.- Mexico border in Cochise County than either the governments of Mexico or the United States. That is what law enforcement officers from the Tucson sector of America's southern border told me on my fourth trip to the southern border recently: The cartels have more control over our border than we do. What are the cartels doing with that control? To America's detriment, they are smuggling people and drugs across it every day. I suppose we could blame the cartels because they are vicious and ruthless, but we should look closer to home for the blame. We should look to the person most responsible for creating the disaster at the southern border. We should look to the very person who, when he took office, repealed 64 very effective policies, which were keeping our border safe: canceling border wall construction, instituting a mass parole system, and taking border agents away from the border to place them in migrant processing centers to process more and more migrants into the interior of the country. Who is responsible for the disaster at the southern border? It is not climate change or migratory patterns. Rather, it is illegal immigration's best friends: President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas. President Biden's open-border policies have allowed nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl to enter the United States so far this fiscal year. This scourge has led to over 200,000 fentanyl deaths in the United States since President Biden started repealing those very effective border policies. In fact, fentanyl is the leading cause of death of Americans ages 18 to 45. In response to President Biden's open-border policies, my good friend and fellow Long Islander, Congressman D'Esposito, has proposed an effective bill that would modify the requirements for reporting by the Attorney General on the impacts of the border crisis. Included in Congressman D'Esposito's bill is language to better understand when law enforcement is exposed to fentanyl. This legislation is critical to understanding the challenges law enforcement officers face every day while giving further insights into the crises at our southern border, those crises caused by President Biden. I, alongside my good friend from Florida, Congressman Carlos Gimenez, am proposing an amendment to Congressman D'Esposito's bill that would further get to the root of the fentanyl crisis. Our amendment requires the nationality of the migrant be included in the underlying reports when said migrant exposes a law enforcement officer to fentanyl during an encounter at the border. It is imperative that we, as a Nation, collect more information on who and where these drugs are coming from so we can put an end to the fentanyl scourge. We know from the DEA that most of the fentanyl consumed in the United States is produced in Mexico using precursors that come from China. Also, China is producing it on their own and sending it across the southern border, as well. Fentanyl is not only deadly in miniscule doses, but it is also frequently unknowingly contained in other substances, which multiplies the risk and the range of its impact. Mr. Chair, 75,000 Americans died in 2022 due to the scourge of fentanyl. Enough is enough. I urge all of my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment that will help better identify where the fentanyl is coming from. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaLOTA. What the heck, Mr. Chairman? When he was President, President Truman had a placard on his desk: ``The buck stops here.'' It was a sign of responsibility that the Commander in Chief, the Chief Executive of our great country, wouldn't pass off as an excuse any responsibility that he was responsible for. Yet, what my colleague proposes to do is to disassociate the border crisis from the chief proponent of it and to pass the buck to somebody else. Not 1, not 2, not 10, not 20. Rather, the President has taken 64 different actions to undermine border security through executive orders and other administrative actions, which have opened the border wide, canceled mass parole, repositioned border agents away from the border, paroled millions into the interior, causing crises in cities like New York. It is the President's border crisis. There should be no renaming of this. There is one individual in our great country who can today, with the stroke of a pen, start to solve this crisis, undoing the same executive orders that he issued to get us into this crisis. That is President Biden. Mr. Chair, I am in strong opposition to this amendment. Bipartisanship does not mean blind. It doesn't mean that we need to be ignorant to the facts that the Commander in Chief, President Biden, is the sole person responsible for this border crisis. Announcement by the Acting Chair

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chairman, I rise as the designee of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gimenez), and I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman, my colleague to the west of me in New York, says how most of the fentanyl is being seized at the ports of entry. I would hope the gentleman would also simultaneously criticize the President for repositioning border agents away from those places where vehicles and people are coming to traffic the drugs across, and, instead, repositioning those same agents at migrant processing centers just to parole more and more people into the country. If the gentleman is sincere about his concern for fentanyl coming in at ports of entry, he must call on the President to stop repositioning those agents away. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chairman, President Biden's open border policies, notably the mass parole of unvetted migrants, have essentially turned every State into a border State and have made every community less safe. In good faith, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew), my good friend, has proposed an effective bill that mandates the swift identification, detention, and deportation of illegal immigrants who commit violent acts against law enforcement. This legislation serves as a necessary corrective to the current administration's perilously lax border security. Mr. Chairman, I am proposing an amendment to Congressman Van Drew's bill that would further strengthen our national security framework. This amendment will compel the Secretary of Homeland Security to systematically collect and report to Congress data on illegal migrants detained for charges or convictions of assaulting law enforcement officers. This measure will prevent the avoidance of accountability by ensuring that Secretary Mayorkas and other officials can no longer disregard this critical data. Furthermore, it eliminates the need to depend solely on media reports to understand the full scope of violent crime linked to current border policies. Consider, Mr. Chairman, a recent incident in Times Square, widely seen on social media, where illegal migrants violently attacked NYPD officers. Despite their arrest, these individuals were quickly released, and one was soon re-arrested for another crime. Yet, they were not deported. Instead, they received plea deals from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. This pattern, where the safety of our law enforcement officers is sidelined, is becoming distressingly common. In this fiscal year alone, Mr. Chairman, Customs and Border Protection apprehended over 18,000 illegal migrants with criminal backgrounds, including 248 known gang members, 35 of whom were affiliated with MS-13. Mr. Chair, supporting this amendment is the least we can do to bolster the safety of those who risk their lives for us every day. It is about ensuring that our approach to public safety is proactive and grounded in reality, not just wishful thinking. As we mark National Police Week, I call on my colleagues to stand with our law enforcement officers by backing this amendment and the crucial bill introduced by Mr. Van Drew. Let us commit to a policy that upholds the rule of law and ensures the safety of every American community. We should not put our heads in the sand and think that ``see no evil, hear no evil'' is an effective policy to keep our heroes safe. During National Police Week especially, I urge all of my colleagues to support law enforcement by supporting my amendment to Congressman Van Drew's vital underlying bill. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chairman, I would welcome another amendment that would be more specific to Congress' endeavor to ensure that we have the clarity of the size and scope of this issue. My amendment is something along that path, and if the gentlewoman wants more, the gentlewoman understands that she can submit her own amendment on that issue. Nevertheless, on this amendment, Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Hypocrisy, Mr. Speaker. Hypocrisy. For years, House Democrats said they were in favor of raising or eliminating the State and local tax deduction cap. Yet, exactly 3 months ago today on the floor of the House of Representatives, every single House Democrat voted to block a bill that would eliminate the marriage penalty on the SALT deduction cap. It is shameful, Mr. Speaker, that House Democrats claim to support SALT relief but vote otherwise. Their party line ``no'' vote denied many Long Island families, including many of my constituents, about $2,000 in much-needed tax relief. As a lifelong Long Islander, I understand how costly Albany Democrats have made life for New York suburbs. We have the highest property, sales, and income taxes in the entire Nation. Yet, when we needed Washington Democrats to help relieve us of some of that burden by raising the SALT cap, they ran for the hills, Mr. Speaker. I am disappointed in my colleagues from the other side of the aisle, but, Mr. Speaker, I am not deterred. I will continue to call on all of my colleagues to help raise or eliminate the cap on the SALT deduction. My constituents deserve nothing less.