The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“FLORIDA KEYS MIGRANT CRISIS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security was published in the in the House section section on page H166 on Jan. 11.
The Department was built out of more than 20 agencies in 2002. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lower taxes and boosting federal efficiency, argued the Department is burdened with "unneeded bureaucracy" which could be handled by other departments or standalone operations.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
FLORIDA KEYS MIGRANT CRISIS
(Mr. GIMENEZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Mr. GIMENEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today as our Florida Keys are under a state of emergency.
The President's unwillingness to secure our border, coupled with his pathetic policy of appeasement and concessions to the brutal Castro regime in Cuba, have created a migratory crisis unlike any other that the Florida Keys has seen in decades.
Since August 2022 alone, Federal, State, and local law enforcement have encountered nearly 10,000 people in waters off the coast of Florida, and the Biden administration is directly responsible.
Dry Tortugas National Park has already been forced to close because of this crisis, affecting the tourism-dependent economy of our Florida Keys constituents, boaters, and tour operators, and the Biden administration is directly responsible.
Secretary Mayorkas has repeatedly demonstrated abdication of his responsibilities as leader of the Department of Homeland Security and failed to enforce our public safety immigration laws. That is why I am calling on him to resign immediately.
Governor Ron DeSantis quickly activated the National Guard, and I commend him on behalf of my constituents for his leadership and bold action.
I am calling on the Biden administration to take action now. We must reimburse Monroe County and the State of Florida for local resources that have been expended to process and care for the latest wave of migrants. We need to increase Customs and Border Protection onsite in Monroe County and provide additional resources to the Florida Keys.
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