Rep. Brian Mast urges Senate pass ‘Secure the Border Act’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., urged the U.S. Senate to pass the Secure the Border Act.
“The border crisis has spiraled out of control. It is well past time for the Senate to pass and Biden to sign @HouseGOP’s Secure the Border Act now,” Mast said.
According to House Republicans, the bill will force the Biden administration to restart construction of the border wall.
In addition, the bill aims to deploy technology to the southern and northern border and enhance the asylum process.
The Secure the Border Act, H.R. 2, passed in in the U.S. House on May 11 by a 219-213 vote.
Mast, who represents Florida’s 21st congressional district, voted for the bill. The district includes the northern portion of Palm Beach County as well as Martin and St. Lucie Counties.
Two House Republicans, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-K.Y., and John Duarte, R-Calif., voted against the bill. They were joined by 211 House Democrats against the legislation.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., did not vote on the bill. Moskowitz represents Florida’s 23rd congressional district, which encompasses much of Broward County and a portion of Palm Beach County..
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., recently reiterated calls to pass H.R. 2 on social media.
“Months ago, the House passed the strongest border security bill in history-HR2, The Secure the Border Act,” McCarthy said.
“It would immediately restart wall construction and increase the number of border patrol agents. Time for Democrats to do their job and stop ignoring Biden’s Border Crisis,” he said.
In June, Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled his own detailed plan to secure the southern border at a presidential campaign event.
DeSantis’ plan includes using military force if the Mexican government does not assist in cracking down on drug cartels.
His campaign also said it would cut off federal funding for nongovernmental organizations and end “catch and release.”
Moreover, DeSantis vowed to end birthright citizenship for illegal aliens, deport visa overstays, and allow immigration authorities to “do their jobs” regarding illegal immigrants.
“What I’ve seen at the border is just humiliating as a country – that we can’t even enforce the territorial integrity of this nation,” DeSantis said during the event.
