Fellow South Dakotan,
On the Fourth of July, President Trump signed historic legislation into law that delivers on Republicans’ promises to the American people. One of Republicans’ promises was to make America safer and stronger. This legislation makes generational investments in our border security and in our national defense to make that promise a reality.
From day one, President Trump has worked to restore order to the southern border and deport criminal illegal aliens who have taken up residence in our country. This bill provides the resources to solidify those gains for the long term and finally end the era of open borders. Republicans have made a generational investment in our border security that includes funding to finally finish the border wall. We’re hiring more agents at the border and providing them with the tools and technology they need to stop illegal aliens and illegal drugs from entering our country. And it invests in additional ICE officers and detention capacity to support the Trump administration’s deportation efforts.
With this bill, Republicans are also making a $150 billion investment in a stronger military. In recent years, we’ve seen serious declines in military readiness while, at the same time, the world has grown more dangerous and China began to outpace us in key capabilities. This bill helps rebuild our military so our men and women in uniform have everything they need to deter and defeat today’s threats and tomorrow’s.
In the coming years, we’ll be building more ships to grow our Navy fleet, and we’ll be expanding our Air Force fighter fleet – all thanks to this new law. We’ll modernize our nuclear capabilities and expand and expedite defense production at home, so we have more Made-in-America weapons and munitions. We’re also funding drone and counter-drone technologies, expediting delivery of the B-21 that will soon be housed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, and investing in missile defense for the homeland. All of this means a stronger America, and it puts our adversaries on notice.
This bill not only invests in equipment and capabilities, it also supports the brave men and women who work every day to keep America safe and secure. It provides billions of dollars for servicemembers’ quality of life, including child care, education, and housing. It funds bonuses for border and immigration officers. And it provides additional funding for local law enforcement, as well as tax relief on the overtime pay that law enforcement officers earn when spending long hours away from their families to keep us safe.
President Trump and Republicans have made a generational investment in American security, and a safer and stronger America is right around the corner. I can’t wait for these resources to be in the hands of the men and women who keep us safe – from our local police to the Border Patrol to the men and women serving our country in uniform around the world. To all of these brave Americans, thank you for serving – we have your back.
All the best,
