South Lake Today

Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, released a statement after voting to pass H.R. 8752, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for 2025.

“Today I voted to force President Biden to secure our border and restart construction of a border wall,” said Rep. Webster. “The safety and security of American lives are impacted by President Biden’s failure to secure our borders and House Republicans are taking action. This bill is a step in the right direction by requiring physical barriers on our border and providing critical support to our Border Patrol Agents as they work to keep us safe and hold illegal immigrants accountable.”

Webster also expressed satisfaction with the funding allocated for the U.S. Coast Guard: “I’m also pleased vital funding is provided for our U.S. Coast Guard to secure the oceangoing vessels needed to keep our maritime borders secure. The Coast Guard is our first line of defense protecting our nation’s waterways and stopping illegal immigrants in our seas. I’m thrilled so many of my colleagues embraced something I've been doing and advocating for a decade - rejecting the Washington presumption that nothing in the federal budget can be cut in order to fund our priorities without increasing our deficit.”

Highlights of H.R. 8752 include:

- $600 million for the construction of the Southern Border wall.

- Forces DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to adhere to federal law and immediately construct physical barriers.

- Provides $300 million for border security technology.

- Restores law and order by providing $4.1 billion for custody operations, and $822 million to fund removal operations of illegal immigrants.

- Funds additional Coast Guard Fast Response Cutters, Offshore Patrol Cutters, Waterways Commerce Cutters, and critical aircraft needed to secure maritime borders.

- Prevents the Department of Homeland Security from advancing critical race theory.

- Counters Communist China by funding increased engagements with allies in the Indo-Pacific.

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