Dear Friends,

This week, I traveled to Eagle Pass, Texas, with Speaker Mike Johnson and other members of the House Republican Conference to tour our southern border. The crisis at our border has turned every state into a border state, demanding urgent action.

I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the challenges faced by Texans and hear directly from Border Patrol agents and Law Enforcement officers on the front lines of this crisis.

As your representative, I have advocated for legislative solutions to address this crisis. Last year, I co-sponsored and voted in favor of H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives. This  legislation aims to increase the number of Border Patrol agents, deploy cutting-edge technology to our nation’s borders, and resume the construction of physical barriers to enhance border security.

In May 2023, I co-sponsored the HALT Fentanyl Act, which also successfully passed the U.S. House of Representatives. This critical piece of legislation aims to combat the growing crisis of fentanyl poisoning that has affected countless Americans. The act permanently schedules fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule I narcotic, providing law enforcement with the tools needed to crack down on this devastating epidemic.

The Border Crisis at a Glance:

• In 2023, CBP confiscated almost 230,000 pounds of drugs, including 22,000 pounds of illicit fentanyl, being smuggled across the southern border. 
• In 2023, CBP encountered 2,542,056 illegal migrants attempting to cross the U.S. southern border. 
• In December of 2023, CBP encountered 302,000 illegal migrants attempting to cross the U.S. southern border - in recorded history, this is the highest number of unlawful migrant crossings in a single month. 
• In December of 2023, CBP announced they would be temporarily suspending railway crossings in Eagle Pass, Texas, and El Paso, Texas, to redirect personnel to assist with the processing of an influx of illegal migrants. 

The crisis at our southern border demands our unwavering attention. I am dedicated to working on your behalf to develop enduring solutions that guarantee the safety of North Texans and every American.

Your thoughts and feedback play a pivotal role in shaping these efforts. Please contact my office to voice questions, express concerns, or seek assistance with federal agencies.

Until next time, this is your doctor's note.
 
Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D.