Mayorkas and Becerra Testify on President Biden's Supplemental Funding Requests for Homeland Security and Health Services

Biden requests additional $22 billion for health services including combating opioid crisis, and $1.3 billion for improved border security to tackle fentanyl influx.

• Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee on President Biden's supplemental funding requests for their departments.
• Becerra testified that the additional $22 billion for Health and Human Services would primarily bolster health care accessibility, fund opioid recovery response teams and combat the rise of opioids, including fentanyl.
• Increased funding is also needed for stabilizing childcare services, said Becerra, highlighting the negative impact on American families should the funds be denied.
• Mayorkas stressed the influx of fentanyl through ports of entry, asserting that new imaging technology and increased resources would be essential for curtailing the opioid crisis.
• The proposed $1.3 billion for Homeland Security will support additional personnel and technological resources to improve border security, according to Mayorkas.
• Republican lawmakers questioned Mayorkas on border security specifics and the potential impact of the additional funding on reducing illegal border crossings.

3 Articles

The Messenger PBS NewsHour The Hill