Ricketts on Supplemental Border-Foreign Aid Bill: “We Needed to Pass the Right Deal, Not Just Any Deal”
February 14, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) shared his concerns about the national security risks posed by the catastrophe at our southern border. Ricketts made the comments while on a conference call with Nebraska media.
“I’ve repeatedly said that any border legislation must force Biden to secure our border, stop his mass parole of 1.2 million illegal aliens, and end the national [security] and humanitarian crisis he created,”Ricketts said. “We needed to pass the right deal, not just any deal. This border bill didn’t get the job done.”
“I’ve also consistently said that I support aid for Israel as it defends itself against the Hamas terrorist group,” Ricketts closed. “I support investing in our defense industrial base and create manufacturing jobs. I support aiding our partners facing Chinese Communist Party aggression in the Indo-Pacific. However, Nebraskans understand that our most pressing national security issue is the southern border. That’s why I voted no on the supplemental.”
TRANSCRIPT:
Senator Ricketts: “Today, I will start by discussing the supplemental package the Senate voted on this week.
“As I’ve stated before, President Biden created the crisis on our southern border.
“On the first day of his presidency, he issued 94 executive orders undoing President Trump’s border policies that successfully brought border crossings to a 45-year low.
“Now, he continues to play politics by insisting he needs new legislation to secure the border.
“That is simply not true. President Biden has the same tools that President Trump did.
“I’ve repeatedly said that any border legislation must force Biden to secure our border, stop his mass parole of 1.2 million illegal aliens, and end the national [security] and humanitarian crisis he created.
“We needed to pass the right deal, not just any deal.
“This border bill didn’t get the job done.
“This bill didn’t force Biden to use the powers he already has, and it didn’t stop his mass parole of illegal aliens.
“That’s why I voted no on the border bill.
“I’ve also consistently said that I support aid for Israel as it defends itself against the Hamas terrorist group.
“I support investing in our defense industrial base and create manufacturing jobs.
“I support aiding our partners facing Chinese Communist Party aggression in the Indo-Pacific.
“However, Nebraskans understand that our most pressing national security issue is the southern border.
“That’s why I voted no on the supplemental.”