Ft Wayne Times

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) made a bold statement by voting against H.R. 2872, the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, also known as a Continuing Resolution (CR). His decision was motivated by the failure of President Biden to secure the border, an issue that Baird considers of utmost importance.

In a passionate speech, Rep. Baird expressed his concerns, saying, "We cannot continue business as usual in Washington while cartels and criminals have control of our southern border. I visited the border earlier this month and saw first-hand how dire the situation has become. Every day, dozens of Americans die of drug overdoses, and many fall victim to human trafficking because of this serious lapse in our national security."

This is not the first time Congressman Baird has taken a strong stance on border security. On January 2nd, he visited the southern border with a delegation led by Speaker Mike Johnson, gaining firsthand insight into the gravity of the situation.

The Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act passed by a vote of 314 to 108, indicating a majority support for the bill. However, Baird's vote against it underscores his firm belief that action on border security is urgently needed.

To highlight the severity of the border crisis, Congressman Baird presented alarming statistics provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). According to the CBP data:

- There have been 8 million illegal crossings nationwide and 6.7 million encounters at the southern border over the past three years.

- Encounters at the southern border in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 increased by more than 40% since FY2021 and more than 100% compared to FY2023.

- In FY2023, 169 individuals whose names appear on the terrorist watchlist were stopped trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

- In FY2023, CBP arrested 35,433 migrants with criminal convictions or outstanding warrants.

- In FY2023, CBP seized 27,293 pounds of fentanyl at the southern border – enough to kill more than 6 billion people. Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-49.

These staggering numbers highlight the urgent need for comprehensive border security measures. Congressman Baird's vote against the temporary government funding bill serves as a demand for transformative change on the border issue and a real commitment to border security.

In conclusion, Congressman Jim Baird's decision to vote against the Continuing Resolution sends a clear message to the Biden administration and his colleagues in Congress. It is a call to action for immediate and effective measures to address the border crisis. As the statistics demonstrate, the situation at the southern border demands urgent attention to protect American lives and national security.