WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. French Hill (AR-02) today released the following statement after the House passed the Fiscal Year 2025 Homeland Security, State and Foreign Operations, and Defense Appropriations bills:

“Border security is not a partisan issue – it is a national security issue. As the crisis at our southwest border rages on, we are witnessing the highest level of illegal migrants to ever enter our nation – including individuals on the terror watchlist who are bringing drugs, crime, and economic instability across the country. This poses a national security threat that must be addressed, just like we also must handle the growing threat of our foreign adversaries like China, Russia, and North Korea.

“I was proud to support the FY25 Homeland Security, State and Foreign Operations, and Defense Appropriations bills which provide commonsense funding to sustain 22,000 Border Patrol agents, multiple initiatives to combat the flow of fentanyl, support our allies abroad as they defend their freedom, and provide necessary salary increases for our brave service members who sacrifice everything to defend our nation. These bills follow the spending caps and cuts agreed to in the Fiscal Responsibility Act negotiated in 2023. I will continue to fight in Congress to safeguard Arkansan and American values and protect the security of our great nation.”

Further Background:

H.R. 8752 - Fiscal Year 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations Act: This bill provides funding to the Department of Homeland Security to invest in methods of securing our border, defending our country, and putting an end to the flow of illegal migrants.

H.R. 8771 - Fiscal Year 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act: This bill provides funding to the State Department, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to protect our national security, safeguard our economic interests, support our allies and partners, and promote democracy and freedom abroad.

H.R. 8774 - Fiscal Year 2025 Defense Appropriations Act: This bill provides funding to the Department of Defense to modernize our defensive capabilities, protect our national security, and invest in new ways to counter China and other threats. This bill also increases the pay for all service members by 4.5% and increases the pay for all junior service members by 15%.