Mike Rogers

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Chair, I really take issue with the characterization of militarization of our border. I just told the gentlewoman a few minutes ago that these people don't work on the border. When the military goes down there, they are in support positions to allow the professional Border Patrol agents to do their jobs so that we can provide better care for these individuals who are trying to legally be processed. There is no need for this. This is a wrongheaded amendment. Madam Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce), who is my friend and colleague.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First, I want to point out, when DOD assets are sent to the border, it is in a support capacity. They don't serve in a law enforcement capacity. They don't patrol the border. Right now, we have half of our Border Patrol agents, on a daily basis, being taken off the border and put into administrative functions, not doing law enforcement. When we send DOD assets down there, it is typically National Guard personnel. They fill those back-end administrative functions so the CBP-trained agents can go in and enforce the law. Madam Chair, you never have seen and you are not going to see the DOD assets being used to enforce the law. The military has played an important role in securing our southern border since the 1980s. Presidents Reagan, H.W. Bush, Clinton, W. Bush, and Obama have authorized DOD assistance on the border in the form of equipment or manpower on multiple occasions. Every day, about half of all Customs and Border Protection officers are pulled off the line for administrative duty, transportation, and other work away from the border. There were over 104,000 illegal aliens in June. That is a 380 percent increase over June 2017. CBP is on track for over 1 million apprehensions in this fiscal year. DOD has been on site for months providing support. DOD medium-lift air mobility support moves CBP agents to remote areas. Administrative and transportation support puts CBP agents back in the field and off bus duty. They provide camera and areal sensor operations to help identify large groups of migrants and smuggler activity and to cut down on response times. This support is directly improving border apprehensions and response times. Again, DOD support on the border has been a bipartisan policy to address migration surges for decades. Cutting off DOD assistance will immediately and substantially worsen the crisis on our border. Madam Chair, I strongly oppose this amendment. I urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Chairwoman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Chairwoman, I just want to remind people that we don't want to have these unaccompanied children not have appropriate places to stay and to get medical care, transportation, and supervision that they need. That is all that we are providing for them, because we don't have them in the CBP. So I would urge people to reject this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Chairwoman, I have no further speakers, so I reserve the balance of my time to close.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chairwoman, liberals and progressives have launched a concerted attack on our defense authorization. They have attached a string of partisan, progressive policy riders designed to gut DOD's assistance along the southern border. Every day, about half of all Customs and Border Protection officers are pulled off the line for administrative duty, transportation, and other work, taking them away from the border--mostly taking care of children. The important job of caring for families and unaccompanied children has been a tremendous challenge for these Border Patrol agents. Border Patrol stations and many HHS shelters have been at or above capacity for months. In fact, the last 4 months, we have had over 100,000 apprehensions each of those months. DHS has found 63,000 unaccompanied alien children along the southern border so far this year. That is 13,000 more than all of last year. In the past, DOD has been a trusted partner in housing thousands of migrant children. This amendment bans all DOD assistance to housing unaccompanied children. Since 2012, DOD has provided DOD facilities and land for the Department of Health and Human Services to shelter nearly 16,000 unaccompanied alien children who receive care, security, transportation, and medical services. It would be irresponsible to cut off DOD's ability to provide safe, secure, and accountable shelter for these unaccompanied children in the middle of a border crisis. I strongly oppose this amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, the Border Patrol stations are at a breaking point. Every station has been overcapacity for nearly all of 2019. We have Border Patrol stations that were designed for a maximum capacity of 4,000 individuals. On a regular basis, we have been having 20,000 people in these facilities. DHS has already apprehended more than 390,000 illegal immigrant family members in 2019, which is more than triple last year. This explosion in families coming across the border is a key factor behind the current crisis. Smugglers are intentionally dumping groups of over 100 people at a time in remote areas to overwhelm Border Patrol agents and resources. House Democrats stalled a supplemental for weeks as children and families languished in overcrowded stations that were never designed for this kind of crisis. Democrats are actively limiting DHS' ability to detain migrants, which only fuels catch-and-release policies that started the crisis to begin with. DOD has provided safe, secure, and accountable housing for unaccompanied alien children in the past and should absolutely have the option to deal with them in the future. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Chair, first, I do want to make a point that we are not just talking about unaccompanied children here. The gentlewoman's amendment is not just limited to that. The gentlewoman does make a point that is correct, but I want to emphasize why she is right. If they are not with their legal parent or guardian, we don't know for sure whom that is they are traveling with. They may say it is their grandmother, but for all we know, it is a sex trafficker or a drug dealer who is just using the kid to get into the States. We have on multiple occasions had CBP notice the same child coming through five, six times with different ``families.'' If we are not sure that that is their legal guardian or parent, yes, we are going to find a way to separate them until we can discern whether or not that person should be traveling with them. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this bill. For months, Republicans on and off the Homeland Security Committee have been highlighting the grave humanitarian crisis at our southwest border and pleading with House Democrats to take action. The Democrats' initial response was to deny a crisis even existed. When that failed, they began to try to blame the President. The truth is that they have spent the past several months fighting amongst themselves on a way forward. Even as late as today, the Speaker had to intervene to stop the radical left in her Caucus from sinking the bill. Meanwhile, the crisis has worsened. Madam Speaker, in May alone, 144,000 immigrants were detained, a 622 percent increase over the same month in 2017. Innocent children are being exploited by human smugglers. Border Patrol stations are overcrowded with thousands of migrants staying in poor conditions. These are in stations, Border Patrol processing centers, that have a maximum capacity of 4,000 people. We have 20,000 people in these facilities. For 8 weeks, the House Republicans have been trying to move my legislation to provide $4.5 billion in emergency aid requested by our President, but Democrats have blocked my bill from consideration on 18 separate occasions. Instead, they bring forward a bill today that isn't serious and has no chance of becoming law. To appease the radical left, this bill is stuffed with poison pills. For example, it includes nothing to stop innocent children from being exploited by human smugglers and nothing to continue DOD assistance, which has been essential for managing the crisis. It includes drastic restrictions on the Secretary's authority to surge personnel and assets to the border and update policies to improve conditions for migrant children. These poison pills will only exacerbate the crisis. They will ensure that dangerous catch-and-release policies continue unabated. Meanwhile, migrant families will continue to suffer at the hands of ruthless smugglers. Democrats had a real opportunity to work in a bipartisan manner to address this humanitarian crisis. Unfortunately, once again, they chose to appease the radical left and reject bipartisan consensus. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to vote against this bill. Then, let's work together to craft a bipartisan border supplemental that can become law.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I ask for the House's attention to recognize the life of Mrs. Consuello ``Connie'' Harper. Mrs. Harper, former president and CEO of Central Alabama Opportunities Industrialization Center, passed away on June 17, 2019. The program has helped train and equip low-to-moderate income families in Central Alabama since 1968. Mrs. Harper's nationally recognized self-help programs included providing women with non- traditional training in highway construction and young adults with Job Readiness Training. Mrs. Harper's daughter, Sylvia Harper, and grandson, Retired Army Special Forces ``Green Beret'' Lieutenant Colonel Kali McMurray, will continue OIC's work. Mrs. Harper also worked as an educator in Macon County and served on the Macon County School Board. Her husband, Socrates Harper, is a retired educator and previously served as District County Commissioner for Macon County. She was a lifelong resident of the Tysonville community in Macon County. Madam Speaker, please join me in commemorating the life of Mrs. Harper.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Because of the political dysfunction in their own Caucus, they stubbornly refuse to put forward any solutions. It has gotten to the point where editorial boards in some of the Nation's most liberal cities are now calling Democrats out for their inaction. Democrats need to stop denying the facts and blaming the President for this crisis. The time has come to face reality and work with the President and Republicans in Congress to immediately resolve this humanitarian crisis. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to defeat the previous question on this rule. If we do that, we can finally bring this critically needed supplemental funding to the House for a vote.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule. The rule demonstrates once again that the Democrat majority refuses to acknowledge, accept, or address the very real crisis at our southern border. New numbers recently came out illustrating the magnitude of the crisis. CBP detained more than 144,000 migrants in the month of May. This was the third consecutive month when we had in excess of 100,000 migrants detained at the border: 101,000 in March, 109,000 in April, and 144,000 in May. We are on track to apprehend over 1 million migrants this fiscal year, approximately the population of Austin, Texas. Smugglers and cartels continue to preach that now is the time to come to the United States. They call children ``permisos,'' or permits, and exploit them to get scores of adults unrelated to the children across the border. These criminal organizations run an international smuggling operation filled with misery and abuse. Migrants who survive the smugglers often arrive in poor health, physically exhausted, and in need of urgent medical care. The men and women of CBP are doing the best they can to respond to this humanitarian crisis, but they have run out of space to safely house and process the unprecedented numbers of family units seeking entry into the United States. In the next couple of weeks, Health and Human Services will run out of funds to feed and shelter the vulnerable unaccompanied children. Four weeks ago, the President and Congress sent an urgent request for supplemental appropriations to address this crisis. Ranking Member Granger and I filed an amendment to the minibus which would have provided the $4.5 billion requested by the President. It would have replenished critical funds needed to feed and shelter migrant families and unaccompanied children. It would have provided urgent medical care and transportation services, and it would pay the growing cost of overtime for the men and women of DHS working on the front lines of this crisis. Unfortunately, for the third time in the last month, the majority refused to make our amendment in order. Democrats haven't approved a dime for this crisis.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding and for his leadership on this issue. Madam Speaker, there is a crisis at our southwest border. In fact, we are on track to break nearly every record from recent history. Just last week, CBP apprehended a single group, one group, with 1,036 people in it at the border. Madam Speaker, we couldn't fit that many people in this Chamber, and we certainly can't fit them in a single Border Patrol station. This bill does nothing to address this crisis. Instead, it tells an entire generation of illegal immigrants that breaking our laws is rewarded. This is not rocket science. We have seen this before. In 2014, a wave of unaccompanied children came to our borders, driven by smuggler propaganda citing DACA and other amnesty policies. The smugglers have doubled down. They call children permisos, or permits, and use them to get scores of adults, unrelated to the children, across the border. Securing our border and enforcing our laws is the only way to break this cycle. Ranking Member Collins introduced legislation to close the asylum loopholes that are fueling this crisis. That is the bill that should be on the floor today. We also desperately need to provide supplemental funding to get us through this crisis. Last month, I asked the House to provide $4.5 billion that DHS requested to address this humanitarian and security crisis. Despite urgent pleas for additional funds from frontline personnel responsible for caring for unaccompanied children, Democrats refused to add the funds to the supplemental. Today, the majority again rejected those funds during the previous question vote. Democrats haven't approved a dime to address this crisis. Because of the political dysfunction in their own Caucus, they stubbornly refuse to put forward real solutions. Instead, they put forward a bill today that is sending a clear message: Democrats would rather reward illegal immigrants than secure our border, enforce our laws, and fix this crisis. It is disgraceful. Madam Speaker, I oppose this bill.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I ask for the House's attention to recognize the 100th birthday of Tommie Louise Caudle. Ms. Caudle was born on June 5, 1919 to J.H. Caudle and Sallie White Caudle in Sylacauga, Alabama. She graduated from Sylacauga High School in 1937 and started working at Southern Bell Telephone as a telephone operator at age 16. She attended Judson College her freshman year during which she was a member of Baptist Young People's Union. She also attended the University of Alabama. Ms. Caudle worked for South Central Bell until she retired in 1974. Madam Speaker, please join me in wishing Ms. Caudle a happy 100th birthday.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I ask for the House's attention to recognize 2018 Alabama Outstanding Young Farm Family, the Upchurch family. The Upchurch family are multi-generation farmers and received the honor at the Alabama Farmer's Federation's 46th Commodity Producers Conference in Montgomery. They also placed in the Top 10 at the American Farm Bureau Federation national contest in New Orleans. The Upchurches--Chris, Jordyn and son Charlie--owns Rockin U farm in Clay County. Their farm encompasses over 300 acres, 130 cows and three poultry houses. They're hard-working, forward-thinking stewards of the land whose recent diversification allows them to produce over 3,500 bales of haylage annually. They also partner on C&J Farm, a trucking and poultry house clean-out business. Off the farm, they promote agriculture and rural living through Clay County Young Farmers, the county cattlemen's association and Lineville Baptist Church. Chris also serves as State Poultry Committee first vice chairman. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the 2018 Outstanding Young Farm Family: Chris and Jordyn Upchurch.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the 1969 graduating class of J.W. Darden High School in Opelika, Alabama. The purple and gold Panther alumni are celebrating their 50 years since graduation. The graduating class had 107 students and date of graduation was May 1969. Class officers included: President--Charles Harper, Vice President--Harvey Jackson, Secretary--Evelyn Melton and Treasurer--Frances Forman. Mr. Wilbert D. Payne, Jr. serves as local Chairperson of the 1969 graduating class. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the 1969 graduating class of J.W. Darden High School and congratulate them on this 50-year milestone.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule. This rule demonstrates, once again, that the Democrat majority refuses to acknowledge, accept, or address the very real crisis at our southern border. Numbers came out yesterday illustrating the magnitude of the crisis. CBP detained more than 109,000 migrants along the southwest border last month alone--a 591 percent increase compared with April of 2017. In just the last 7 months, more than 1 percent of the total population of Honduras and Guatemala have migrated to the United States. In total, over a half a million migrants have crossed our border since October of last year, approximately the population of Tucson, Arizona. Smugglers and cartels continue to preach that now is the time to come to the U.S. These criminal organizations run an international smuggling organization filled with misery and abuse. CBP has already rescued more than 2,000 migrants this fiscal year, pulling families out of the Rio Grande River and saving children who smugglers have abandoned. Migrants that survive the smugglers often arrive in poor health, physically exhausted, and in need of urgent medical care. The men and women of CBP are doing the best they can to respond to this humanitarian crisis, but they have run out of space to safely house and process unprecedented numbers of family units seeking entry into the United States. Health and Human Services is on the urge of running out of funds to shelter vulnerable, unaccompanied children that are crossing our borders at levels 50 percent higher than just last year. Last week, the President sent Congress an urgent request for supplemental appropriations to address this humanitarian crisis. Ranking Member Collins and I filed an amendment to the supplemental, which would have provided $4.5 billion requested by the President. It would have replenished critical funds needed to feed and shelter migrant families and unaccompanied children, provide urgent medical care and transportation services, and pay the growing cost of overtime for the men and women of DHS working on the front lines of this crisis. Unfortunately, the majority refused to make our amendment in order, and in doing so they, again, refused to take action to address this crisis. They stunningly refused to support the men and women of DHS, and most remarkably, they refused to provide the needed assistance to thousands of vulnerable migrants arriving at our border on a daily basis. The majority's political dysfunction is disgraceful. I urge them to work with the President and Republicans in Congress to immediately resolve this humanitarian crisis. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to oppose this rule.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 50th Anniversary of Dr. C.O. Grinstead's ministry at Trinity Baptist Church of Oxford, Alabama. June 23, 2019 will mark Dr. Grinstead's 50th anniversary at Trinity Baptist Church. Dr. Grinstead is a native of Gary, Indiana, and a graduate of Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He met his wife, Sherry, at a college fellowship in 1957, and they were married June 4, 1960. Dr. Grinstead came to Trinity in 1969 from Jacksonville, Florida. He bought some radio equipment and began a 15-minute daily radio program of Trinity highlights on WHMA in December of 1969. In the 1970s, Trinity began Trinity Christian Academy, built the school and the gymnasium. In 1975, Dr. Grinstead left to travel with Evangelist Tom Williams and sent tithe back each month. In 1978, he returned to Trinity and became Associate Pastor with 100 percent vote of the church. In 1981, he became pastor of Trinity. In 1989, Dr. Grinstead received his Doctorate from Florida Bible College and the next year, he became moderator of the Southwide Baptist Fellowship. In 1994, Truth Radio came on-air and has been running in 24 counties in East Central Alabama and a few counties in West Georgia. Dr. Grinstead has served as Chaplain of the Calhoun County Republican Party, Oxford Police Department and Assistant Chaplain at Calhoun County Jail. He and Sherry were blessed with three children and nine grandchildren. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing this milestone for my good friend, Brother Grinstead.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Zameron Boozer for winning the Alabama 1A Boys State Championship in the high Jump. Zameron is a junior at Lanett High School in Lanett, Alabama. On Friday, May 3, 2019, in Cullman, Alabama at the state meet, he secured the 1A boys state championship in the high jump with a leap of 6-6. It was his personal best. Zameron just started track and field last year. He also plays basketball and hopes to continue playing in college. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing and congratulating Zameron on this achievement.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I ask for the House's attention to recognize the retirement of Suzanne Girard Burnette. Suzanne is retiring as the Executive Director of the Lee-Russell Council of Governments on May 1st after nearly 25 years with the organization. Suzanne grew up in West, Texas before moving to Mayfield, Kentucky for her father's new job. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky and her Master's in Public Affairs/Administration from Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky. She has over 30 years of experience in community and economic development in both the public and private sector. In 1984, she wrote the State of Alabama's ``Community Development Block Grant Program Management and Implementation Manual.'' Suzanne serves on various boards and committees including the Auburn Lions Club, the Alabama Association of Regional Councils, the National Association of Development Organizations Board, the Southeast Regional Director's Institute, Lee County Habitat for Humanity Board, Auburn and Opelika Chambers of Commerce, Alabama Council on Human Relations and others. Suzanne is married to Wayne Burnette and lives in Auburn, Alabama. Suzanne and Wayne have two children, April and Miranda. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the retirement of Suzanne Girard Burnette.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of Admiral Dennis Matthew Brooks. Admiral Brooks was born on November 23, 1934 in Fairfield, Alabama. He married the love of his life Dolores (Lorrie) Gober following his graduation from the Naval Academy in 1957. They had three children, Mark, Amy and Allison and two grandchildren, James and Mary Katherine. He served his country for 35 years until his retirement in 1992. His assignments included fighter pilot, test pilot and teacher at the Naval Academy. His command assignments included fighter squadrons VF-51 ``Screaming Eagles'' and VF-121 ``Pacemakers'', USS Kansas City and USS Constellation, Carrier Group Seven and Battle Force and Carrier Strike Forces of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. In 1988, he was assigned as the initial commander of the Combined Joint Task Force, Middle East, involving all U.S. Forces in the Persian Gulf. Ashore Admiral Brooks' major assignments included Director, Navy Space Command and Military Director of the National Reconnaissance Office. The USS Constellation (Connie) under the command of then Captain Brooks was visited by Ronald Reagan shortly after the President's recovery from wounds received in an assassination attempt. Following his inspection, the President declared ``Connie'' to be ``America's Flagship'', presented the crew a presidential flag and announced: ``Let friend and foe alike know that America has the muscle to back up its words, and ships like this and men like you are that muscle.'' Later the Connie gained her motto, ``Go Ahead Make My Day'', which was painted on the ship's island. Following his Navy career, the Admiral and Lorrie retired to Pell City where he continued his service as Rotary District Governor for District 6860. His philanthropic efforts included Pell City's Habitat for Humanity, the Board of the Eastern Health Foundation and the Pell City Library Guild. He was an Eagle Scout and continued throughout his life to be involved in Scouting. Posthumously, the Greater Alabama Scout Council presented the ``Heart of an Eagle'' Award to his family. Admiral Dennis Matthew Brooks, United States Navy (Ret), of Pell City, Alabama, passed away November 12, 2018. Admiral Brooks lived an exemplary life and brought out the very best in those who were fortunate to serve with him in the Navy and those who were fortunate enough to know him in civilian life. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the life of Admiral Brooks.