Ranking Member Steil: We Must Secure Our Southern Border

Press Release

Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01), Ranking Member on the Select Committee on the Economy, shared a statement following the Select Committee's field hearing in McAllen, TX and Republican press conference at the southern border.

"I am glad we had a full Congressional hearing with democrats and republicans at the southern border where we could see first-hand the challenges American cities have due to the open border. The inaction by President Biden and his Administration has created a crisis at our southern border.

Resources to make critical infrastructure investment discussed during the hearing and to protect Texas communities have been diverted to manage this crisis. Farmers, ranchers, and families are seeing this first-hand. One example is the increase in high-speed car chases. This is forcing schools to put up barricades to protect students. The needs of farmers and ranchers have been routinely ignored and demeaned by the Biden Administration's inaction. Human and drug trafficking on personal property is harming Texans' safety and destroying farmland.

We cannot continue to ignore this crisis. The federal government has a duty to secure our border. It's time for President Biden and one-party control in Washington to act."

The Select Committee on the Economy hosted the first full committee hearing at the U.S.-Mexico Border since President Biden took office. Following the hearing, Republican Members on the Committee participated in a tour of the Southern Border in the Rio Grande River hosted by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). To combat the increase in human trafficking and drugs coming across the border, Texas DPS has had to deploy boats and other resources to the border. Ranking Member Steil and Republicans hosted a press conference to discuss the impacts of the Biden Administration's policies at the border, including the increase in human trafficking and fentanyl coming across the border, and the resources needed to secure our border, and protect our communities.

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