Nicolas LaLota

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, I first thank my colleague, a true public servant, and good friend, Anthony D'Esposito, for giving me time to speak tonight. As the son and grandson of dedicated police officers, I am honored to be here tonight to recognize National Police Week. This week, we pay tribute to the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. Back home on Long Island, we have a proud legacy of supporting our law enforcement officers. From Nassau to Suffolk, our communities stand united in gratitude for their service and sacrifice. We recognize the unwavering commitment they demonstrate, often at great personal risk, to uphold the values of justice, integrity, and service. I'd like to specifically recognize the many Suffolk County Police Officers who are here in Washington, D.C. this week. We thank them for their service, and I look forward to engaging with them this week and in the future. This week is a poignant reminder of the dedication and the risks officers face daily. The recent killing of NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller, who was killed in the line of duty, underscores this reality. The widespread support following his death from across Long Island exemplifies our collective appreciation for those who protect us. As we reflect on the challenges faced by law enforcement, let us also reaffirm our support for their vital work. Let us stand together in appreciation for their dedication to protecting and serving us all. To our police officers, I say thank you. Their courage, professionalism, and selflessness inspire us all. During National Police Week, let's unite in support of law enforcement officers nationwide, recognizing their courage, dedication, and sacrifices. We must reaffirm our commitment to providing them with the necessary resources, support, and respect, enabling them to continue their vital work with integrity and honor.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Madam Speaker, ``give-up groups'' is the new term coined by our brave Border Patrol for an assembly of about 10 to 30 migrants who cross north across America's southern border, where there is no wall or barrier, and who don't even attempt to evade Border Patrol. Rather, the give-up groups know that if they falsely claim asylum, President Biden will facilitate their parole into our country. Not only that, the Biden administration will give them a pair of Crocs, a sandwich, a sweat suit, and a plane ride to a city, like New York. I learned about give-up groups this past weekend on my fourth trip to the southern border. This new tactic is another way the migrants are taking advantage of President Biden's terrible border policy. Madam Speaker, to secure the border and to stop these give-up groups, President Biden should reinstate the 64 successful Trump-era border policies.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, America's southern border is not a social construct. On a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border this past weekend, an academic from a prestigious institution shocked our bipartisan group by stating that he teaches students the border is a social construct to facilitate the free flow of people and ideas. What the heck, Mr. Speaker? It is appalling, but it sheds light on the ideology guiding President Biden's border policy decisions. These decisions include: halting border wall construction, implementing a mass parole system, and failing to promptly expel noncitizens who illegally cross in between ports of entry. This mindset ignores the fundamental importance of border security and the rule of law. By dismissing the border as a mere social construct, it undermines the legitimate efforts to protect our Nation's sovereignty and ensure the safety of our citizens. We must reject such dangerous rhetoric and work toward policies that prioritize border security. accessible federal contracting for small businesses

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, the hurdles facing America's small businesses in obtaining Federal contracts are unjustifiably high. These businesses, the lifeblood of our economy, shouldn't require a legal team or extensive compliance infrastructure just to compete for Federal contracts. That is why I have introduced H.R. 7987, the Plain Language in Contracting Act, aimed at simplifying the process for small businesses to secure government contracts. I extend my gratitude to my colleague, Representative Thanedar of Michigan, for co-leading this crucial legislation across party lines. With over 33 million small businesses in America, only a small fraction secure Federal prime contracts. Many entrepreneurs cite the complexity of government procurement processes as a major deterrent. The language used in contract solicitations is often ambiguous and unnecessarily complex, deterring small businesses from even attempting to bid. A study by the Naval Postgraduate School revealed that less than 3 percent of DOD contract solicitations are written in plain English. This complexity drives small businesses away from Federal contracting, eroding competition, and harming our economy. My bill mandates Federal agencies to use clear language in contract solicitations, fostering greater accessibility to contracts for small businesses. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation, recognizing the pivotal role small businesses play in our Nation's economy. Let's pave the way for a more accessible Federal contracting process for all businesses. Doing so benefits small businesses, the Federal Government, and its taxpayers.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, America's small businesses from Long Island and throughout our great country should not need an attorney on staff or a compliance department to apply for and win a Federal contract. That is why I have introduced the Plain Language in Contracting Act, which is aimed at simplifying the process for small businesses to secure government contracts. I extend my gratitude to my colleague, Representative Thanedar of Michigan, for co-leading this crucial legislation across party lines, and to the skipper, Chairman Williams, and his diligent staff for seeing to it that this bill got to the floor today. With over 33 million small businesses in America, only a very small fraction win Federal contracts. Many entrepreneurs cite the complexity of government procurement processes as a major deterrent. The language used in contract solicitations is often ambiguous and unnecessarily complex, deterring small businesses from even attempting to bid on a contract. A study by the Naval Postgraduate School revealed that less than 3 percent of Department of Defense contract solicitations are written in plain English. This complexity drives small businesses away from Federal contracting, eroding competition and harming our economy. My bill mandates Federal agencies to use clear language in contract solicitations, fostering greater accessibility to contract bids for small businesses. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation recognizing the pivotal role small businesses play in our Nation's economy. Together, let's pave the way for a more accessible Federal contracting process for all small businesses. Doing so benefits small businesses, the Federal Government, and all of our taxpayers.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a true hero, Nate Bruckenthal, who gave his life in service to our great country on April 24, 2004. Born in Stony Brook, Nate's unwavering dedication to service was evident from a young age. In 1999, he answered the call of duty and joined the United States Coast Guard and served on the Point Wells based out of Montauk. In 2004, he deployed to the Arabian Gulf where he and two Navy sailors were killed while intercepting a waterborne suicide attack off the coast of Iraq. Nate's actions saved the lives of countless fellow sailors, and we can never thank him enough for his bravery and heroism. Nate's ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty serves as a poignant reminder of the selflessness and courage exhibited by our servicemembers every day. May we never forget his sacrifice and may his memory inspire future generations to serve with the same bravery and devotion.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Indeed, Mr. Chair, the Fourth Amendment should not be for sale. We agree on that. That is to say our government should not be able to buy from a third-party information about American citizens that it could otherwise not obtain without a warrant. The title of the bill, the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale, is compelling. We should all agree to that, yet the language of the bill does not coincide with the title of the bill. The bill, without amendment, is somewhere between innocently misleading and a full-on Fourth Amendment bait and switch. My amendment would narrowly tailor the bill to include searches and seizures normally covered by the Fourth Amendment. Mr. Chair, the Fourth Amendment states: ``The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.'' So let's agree that Congress should restrict the government from, via a third party, searching or seizing persons that it could not otherwise search or seize without a warrant. We should all agree on that. Everyone in the House, from the Freedom Caucus to the squad and everybody else, should agree on that. If that is what the bill actually said, then the bill would likely sail through the House without any real, legitimate opposition because government should not be able to contract out its violation of our Fourth Amendment protections. Yet, without my amendment, the bill would prevent our law enforcement officers from utilizing information that is currently publicly available, information that is accessible without a need for a warrant in fighting crime. This Republican Conference backs the blue. It is part of our Commitment to America to keep America safe. Unfortunately, the bill, without my amendment, breaks our commitment and would prevent law enforcement from using everyday tools which do not violate any American's Fourth Amendment rights. My amendment would clarify that any restriction made on this bill and information that could be obtained by law enforcement or the intelligence community would not include information that is lawfully obtainable without a warrant. If my amendment is adopted, then the name of the bill would actually fit, and the bill would actually give more weight and confidence to our Nation's Fourth Amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chair, we cannot say that we support law enforcement officers and then take away the tools they need to do their job. My amendment would strike a proper balance between ensuring our government does not use a third party to violate the Fourth Amendment while at the same time preserving the ability for law enforcement to do its job. Without adopting my amendment, this bill will make it almost impossible for State, local, and Federal law enforcement to investigate crime. We should be making it easier for law enforcement to do their job rather than tying one hand behind their back. At the same time, we should protect against government's warrantless searches and seizures of American citizens. Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the memory of the late Scott Nicholas, a remarkable individual from Smithtown, New York. Scott Nicholas was not only a Captain in the United States Naval Reserve but also a dedicated professor at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. Mr. Nicholas graduated from the State University of New York Maritime College and served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1999 to 2010. His contributions during Operation Iraqi Freedom aboard the USNS Algol earned him well-deserved recognition. Furthermore, he served with distinction on the USNS Mendonca and Pililaau from 2006 to 2008 and as Captain on the USNS Brittin from 2008 to 2010. Beyond his service in the Naval Reserve, Mr. Nicholas continued to serve his country as a professor of Nautical Sciences and Simulation at the United States Merchant Marine Academy until his untimely passing on November 19, 2023. His dedication and commitment to his Nation exemplify true heroism. My heartfelt condolences and profound appreciation for his service extend to his beloved wife, Heather, and his entire family. May the United States and the State of New York forever cherish patriots like Scott Nicholas. May his legacy endure, and may he find eternal peace.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, the seven young men who lost their lives in the 2018 crash of Jolly 51 in western Iraq deserve Purple Hearts. Four of the seven were based out of the 106th Rescue Wing in Westhampton Beach in my district on Long Island. Two of those four were raised in my district: Master Sergeant Christopher Raguso of Huntington and Staff Sergeant Dashan Briggs of Riverhead. For years now, the men of Jolly 51 have been denied Purple Hearts by the Air Force, despite efforts by my predecessor and me. After having the privilege of speaking at a memorial service last week to honor the sixth anniversary of the crash, I am here today to recommit to the families of the men of Jolly 51 that I will do everything in my power to ensure they are posthumously awarded Purple Hearts. They gave their lives in action against an enemy of the United States. Posthumously awarding each of these seven brave men a Purple Heart is the very least we can do.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Madam Speaker, we, the United States Government, must do everything in our power to bring my constituent, Kai Li, home from his unlawful imprisonment by the Chinese Communist Party. Since 2016, Kai Li, of Huntington, New York, has been unjustly imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party. In 2016, Kai Li visited Shanghai to mark the first anniversary of his mother's death. When he arrived at the airport in Shanghai, Chinese Communist Party authorities immediately arrested him on what they called espionage charges. For months, Kai was held in secret detention without access to legal counsel. Almost 2 years later, in July of 2018, in a one-hour secret trial, Kai was convicted of espionage. This is yet another example of the Chinese Communist Party's long history of aggressively targeting and detaining individuals on trumped- up charges of spying. Since coming into office 14 months ago, I have called on the administration to do everything in its power to bring Kai Li home to his family, including his son, Harrison. Soon, I will be introducing legislation to urge this administration to prioritize bringing Kai Li home and end his unlawful detainment. We must right this wrong and fix a broken situation. police explorers program

Mr. LaLOTA. Madam Speaker, the Suffolk County Police Department has an exciting program to increase interest among teenagers in pursuing a career in law enforcement. It is called the Police Explorers. Participants in the program must show an interest in a law enforcement career, meet minimum academic standards, and have no criminal convictions or history. The Police Explorers program is a learning-for-life program, which provides participants with police training and community service experience. I had the chance to meet with Sergeant Linda Piotrowski of the Suffolk County Police Department in my Hauppauge office, and she briefed me on this program. We had a great discussion about public safety and how to increase awareness among young people interested in a career in law enforcement. As the son and grandson of police officers, I am thrilled to see efforts to increase law enforcement recruitment numbers and to help those interested in a career in law enforcement. Together, we must continue to support and back the blue at every opportunity. combating the rise in anti-semitism

Mr. LaLOTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to condemn the disturbing rise in anti-Semitism in this country and around the world, especially in the months following the October 7 terrorist attacks committed by Hamas against the people of Israel. Since October 7, America has seen a demonstrable rise in anti- Semitism on college campuses where students have been harassed and even insulted simply for being Jewish. Despite their years of elitist rhetoric, talk of safe spaces, and feigning how they welcome all cultures, duplicitous liberal college presidents have refused to take action to protect these students. In America, every student should be free to live and learn without fear of harassment or physical violence. America's colleges must do better. Here in Washington, I am proud to cosponsor several pieces of legislation to support Israel, hold Hamas and Iran accountable, and condemn anti-Semitism, including H.R. 6090, the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, which would require the Department of Education to clearly define anti-Semitism and ensure anti-Semitic hate crimes on college campuses are properly investigated and prosecuted.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Williams for yielding, for his leadership in the Committee on Small Business, and most importantly for recognizing the importance of this legislation and its importance to the veterans community. Mr. Speaker, America owes a great debt of gratitude to our service- disabled veterans. Those who have served our Nation in uniform deserve our utmost thanks, support, and respect. They put our great country before themselves. As service-disabled veterans transition into civilian life and some look to enter the government contracting space, Congress must identify and implement ways to make that transition easier. My bipartisan bill does just that. The Service-Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act will provide greater opportunities to our Nation's disabled veterans by increasing government contracting opportunities for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Currently, Federal agencies are required to contract with service- disabled veteran-owned small businesses for at least 5 percent of contracts awarded, yet the prior lower standard, 3 percent for all, wasn't even being met by many agencies. My legislation will help solve that problem by requiring the Office of Veterans Business Development and the Small Business Administrator to provide training to Federal agency officials who fall below their procurement goals and issue guidance on best practices to increase the number of contracts to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support the Service-Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Williams for yielding and for his leadership on the Small Business Committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of my bill, the bipartisan DOE and SBA Research Act. The DOE and SBA Research Act would simply require the Small Business Administration and America's 17 national labs to collaborate to ensure that small businesses are better utilized within the Department of Energy procurement process. The Department of Energy is one of the largest procurers of small business goods and services in the government. Through the DOE's national laboratories, small businesses can play a critical role in executing the DOE's mission. My district, which is home to one of these laboratories, Brookhaven National Lab, which is leading the way by prioritizing working with small businesses, specifically BNL and Suffolk County small businesses have created a mutually beneficial relationship based upon cooperative research and technical assistance. Despite good intentions throughout the Federal system, far too often small businesses have been made to endure tremendous frustrations related to Federal contracting because the Federal contracting process is incredibly complex and bureaucratic and plagued with many inconsistencies and nuances. Some programs, such as the Small Business Innovation Research program, operate differently in each agency. This means a small business utilizing the same program may have to meet significantly different requirements from one agency to the next. My bill, the DOE and SBA Research Act, seeks to remedy this problem. A small business' work with the Federal Government can be a frustrating maze, and this bipartisan bill will help bring existing resources and opportunities to innovative and successful small businesses. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support the DOE and SBA Research Act.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Williams for yielding me the time today and Ranking Member Velazquez, a fellow proud New Yorker, for leading this effort with me. It is a good day when Members of the same State delegation from different parties can work together to benefit New York's small businesses and small businesses throughout this great country of ours. Mr. Speaker, our bipartisan WOSB Certification and Opportunity Expansion Act would phase out self-certified, women-owned small businesses from the governmentwide procurement goals. In doing so, this bill would achieve two main things. It will protect the integrity of the women-owned small business program, and it will prevent the abuse of Federal small business contracting goals. Self-certification, according to the SBA Office of Inspector General and others, presents significant risks of fraud and impedes the progress of businesses which rightfully qualify. While others can self- certify, women small business owners in the SBA's women-owned small business program undergo a certification program to ensure that only women-owned firms enter. This bill aligns the women-owned small business program with similar programs that no longer count self-certified firms in the SBA's goals. A similar provision phasing out self-certified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses from the procurement goals passed in the FY24 NDAA. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the WOSB Certification and Opportunity Expansion Act.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, let's add some honesty to the SALT conversation. I am from a blue State, and I am willing to concede to my red State colleagues especially that an increase in the SALT cap benefits blue States more than red States. There; I said it. After all, it is the blue States with the highest State income taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes. At 10.9 percent, my State, New York, has the dubious distinction of having the highest taxes in this great Nation of ours. As bloated and out of control as my State's spending and taxes are under one-party Democrat rule, it cannot be said truthfully that red States are subsidizing the blue States. The data demonstrates the opposite actually, that blue States like mine are giving far more to Washington than we get back. The opposite is true, that many red States get far more from Washington than they give. As you can see from this chart, the home States of many of my Republican colleagues shown in red, who say SALT is a subsidy to blue States, are, in fact, the States that get much more from Washington than they give, Mr. Speaker. Here in this chart, you can see that New York gets one of the worst returns on investment of our Federal dollars. It is the blue line down there. Yet, many red States are at the top of this list whose taxpayers are getting much more from Washington than they are giving. Mr. Speaker, States like New York are not asking for a bailout. We are simply asking to break even. Many of my colleagues are correct to say a large part of the problem starts in Albany. Sadly, I live in that reality, and I know better than to rely on Albany Democrats to try and improve the lives of the average New Yorker. Why do you think so many are fleeing my State for States like Texas and Florida? It is not just for the weather, Mr. Speaker. Second, I want to address some serious intellectual dishonesty and rewriting of history by my Democrat colleagues. Mr. Speaker, Democrats had complete control of Washington for 2 years, the House, the Senate, and the White House, yet they have never signed any SALT relief into law, even though they passed several massive omnibus and reconciliation bills. They failed their constituents and mine and embarrassed themselves and are now trying to blame blue State Republicans, even though we are clearly fighting tooth and nail to deliver some sort of relief. When they had majorities and the White House, why didn't Speaker Pelosi and New York's own Leader Schumer take action to deal with this issue? Mr. Speaker, this is a political talking point for Democrats but a serious policy item for me and my fellow New York Republicans. Restoring the SALT deduction is not just a matter of tax policy for Long Island families. It is a crucial step toward ensuring economic fairness, supporting the middle class, and sustaining vibrant communities. The lack of a meaningful SALT deduction hurts my constituents, and we must address this injustice. Since so many of my Democrat colleagues have been so passionate about this issue, I am sure they will have no issue, Mr. Speaker, voting to advance this legislation and voting in favor of the rule. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support the combined rule.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, sending Federal dollars to New York City to pay for hotels and other free stuff for migrants will only make New York's migrant crisis worse. That is why I have offered the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act. My commonsense bill will provide that sanctuary jurisdictions like New York City that refuse to cooperate with Federal law enforcement such as ICE are ineligible for Federal funds intended to benefit such noncitizen aliens. Mr. Speaker, the migrants aren't coming to New York City for the warm weather or the Broadway shows. The reason that migrants are coming to New York City, 10,000 per month, is for the sanctuary laws and all the free stuff--free hotels, free clothing, and free healthcare. New York City Mayor Adams gives a heck of a lot of free stuff to migrants. Well, Mr. Speaker, it is not exactly free. It is all paid for by lawful citizens, hardworking taxpayers. Just a few days ago, Mr. Speaker, it was revealed that New York City is giving out $53 million worth of credit cards to migrants. New York City Democrats are literally incentivizing migrants to come to New York City and then feigning frustration when they do so. Worse, New York Governor Hochul is doubling down, offering $2.4 billion in her proposed budget to New York City to give more free stuff to migrants, while she proposes to cut funding from 44 Long Island School Districts. It is these backwards, wrong, and self-defeating policy choices which will only make the migrant crisis worse. If we as a country want to secure the border and have cities without migrant crises, we need to remove the incentives which are causing it. No more free stuff. Until New York repeals its shortsighted and self-defeating policies, which incentivize New York's migrant crisis, it should not be entitled to Federal funds for the migrant crisis its policies are creating.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, Congress writes the laws, and the executive branch enforces them. Let me say that again, Mr. Speaker. Congress writes the laws, and the executive branch enforces them. At least that is what we teach our kids, and that has been the norm throughout our Nation's history. Yet President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas have refused to enforce our Nation's border security laws. Now, as House Republicans are poised to impeach Secretary Mayorkas for his willful and systematic refusal to enforce our Nation's border security laws, President Biden feigns that Congress must pass even more border security laws before he can act. It is a sad attempt to shift blame, Mr. Speaker. If the President truly wanted to secure our border, by a stroke of a pen, he could reinstate remain in Mexico. President Biden could cancel the mass parole of unvetted migrants into the United States. He could cease repositioning border agents away from the border, and he could resume border wall construction. But, Mr. Speaker, we know the President is not going to do that. The President should do that, and he should start today by enforcing our border security laws, but, sadly, he won't, and he should not be able to shift blame to anybody else.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, Americans have had enough. I rise today to call upon the House of Representatives to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and for the Senate to convict and remove him from the office he has failed to uphold. Since being sworn in 3 years ago, Secretary Mayorkas has neglected his duty to secure the border; he has abused his power to exercise proper discretion over America's immigration process by refusing to enforce Federal laws, and he has breached the public trust and put the safety of the American people at risk. Secretary Mayorkas is the worst Cabinet-level official in our Nation's proud history, and he has subverted our Nation's laws so many times. With respect to his impeachment and removal, I want to focus on two main points: the reassigning of Border Patrol agents away from the border, and the lack of vetting of migrants paroled into our interior. First, Secretary Mayorkas continues to require Border Patrol agents be taken off of the border and, instead, sit behind a desk at migrant processing centers to process more and more dubious asylum claims and facilitate migrants' parole into our Nation's interior. This is an abuse of power by the Secretary to exercise proper discretion over our Nation's immigration process. The diversion of border agents away from the border leaves the already mostly unsecured border even more vulnerable to cartels looking to illegally traffic people and narcotics, including fentanyl. Fentanyl has been coming through legal and illegal border crossings, overwhelming our law enforcement. The open and agentless border can be tied to the death of the 73,000 Americans who were poisoned by fentanyl in 2022 alone. In redirecting personnel away from the border, leaving it wide open for tens of miles in many places, Secretary Mayorkas has neglected his duty to secure America's southern border and to keep our communities safe. Second, Mr. Speaker, Secretary Mayorkas' scheme of paroling hundreds of thousands of migrants into the United States who have not and cannot be properly vetted undermines our national security efforts to keep America safe in a post-9/11 world. In just 2 years in office, Secretary Mayorkas paroled and allowed 541,000 migrants to enter the United States through immigration parole authority, which gives Federal officials the power to authorize the entry of foreigners who lack visas. Moreover, while this number on its own is objectionable, the impeachmentworthy part is Secretary Mayorkas has allowed these individuals into our communities without a proper understanding of their criminal backgrounds or national security intentions. According to the not-so-conservative New York Times, more than 24,000 Chinese citizens illegally crossed into the United States in a 1-year time period under Secretary Mayorkas. Mayorkas then paroled a large fraction of them into the United States without any proper vetting whatsoever. This has brought us to this week, where the Homeland Security Committee opened impeachment proceedings against Secretary Mayorkas. This was not an easy decision, but it is necessary for the well-being of our Nation. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans' calls for the Secretary's impeachment and removal from office comes after exhausting all other efforts. In May of last year, the House took action and passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, which, among other things, would counter Secretary Mayorkas' alternative immigration scheme by reinstating the remain in Mexico policy and requiring the construction of more physical barriers at the border. Yet, this bill languishes on Senator Schumer's desk. Despite the inaction from our Senate counterparts, we House Republicans have hosted multiple public hearings to show the American people the failures of Secretary Mayorkas' alternative immigration process with the hope that he would change course. These hearings have been complemented by numerous trips to the southern border to allow Members of this Chamber to hear directly from border communities, local officials, law enforcement, and families harmed by his crisis. House Republicans understand Americans want a more secure border, as is demonstrated by the staggering 68 percent disapproval rating on the President's handling of immigration. Mr. Speaker, to summarize, Secretary Mayorkas has, one, neglected his duty to secure the border; two, abused his power to exercise proper discretion over America's immigration process; and, three, breached the public trust. Secretary Mayorkas is intentionally circumventing the immigration and border security laws passed by multiple Congresses and signed by previous Presidents of both parties, and I believe he holds partial responsibility for thousands of our children dying from fentanyl poisoning. The majority of Americans want accountability.

Mr. LaLOTA

Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Speaker, for far too long, Long Islanders have paid much more in taxes to both Washington and Albany than we have received back in investments. Published recently, the Long Island Regional Planning Council's 2023 Balance of Payments comparison highlights this disparity--a Long Island-D.C. deficit of $26 billion; and a Long Island-New York State deficit of $15 billion. Mr. Speaker, addressing this injustice where Long Islanders subsidize Albany's and Washington's bloated spending is vitally important to my constituents. To right this wrong, Albany lawmakers must implement judicious spending cuts and reduce income taxes, while at the same time providing proper investments in Long Island's infrastructure and schools. Here in Washington, Congress must increase the State and local tax deduction cap. By increasing the cap, Congress can make a substantial impact on lowering the cost for all New Yorkers. The collaboration between State and Federal entities on these comprehensive measures is crucial for securing a brighter and more prosperous future for Long Islanders.

Mr. LALOTA

Mr. LALOTA. Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have vote ``aye'' on rollcall No. 698.