North Cook News

Mark Rice, candidate for Illinois' Eighth Congressional District, has declared the "invasion crisis" as "the biggest national security risk of our lifetime." Rice, who is set to challenge incumbent Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi and Independent Jorge Briseno in the general election, discussed the issue of illegal immigration and shared a link to a social media post.

"We need to END catch and release," said Rice, Republican candidate for U.S. Congress, Illinois Eighth Congressional District, according to his post on Facebook. "The invasion crisis is so big now, it's the biggest national security risk of our lifetime. And this bill isn't adequate in securing our country amid the crisis. We are so alarmed seeing the emboldened illegal migrants yesterday on video in Texas trampling over wire fence and national guard and going to Biden's border guards … it speaks volumes!"

In his discourse, Rice referred to a March 21 Facebook post where he elaborated on the $1.2 trillion spending package that lawmakers in Washington D.C. passed in the early hours of March 23. He stated, "This would be the second fiscal year spending package, larger than the one that passed in the House earlier this month. This second bill includes about $886 billion for defense, about a 3% increase from last year’s levels. The bill also funds the Departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Labor, and others with non-defense spending."

Screenshot of Mark Rice for Congress March 22 Facebook post | Mark Rice for Congress Facebook page

Rice's Facebook post included a press release from the House Ways and Means Committee. It begins with: "Hidden inside President Biden’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget is the revelation that he will increase taxes by a whopping $7 trillion, thanks to a range of tax increases and the expiration of Republicans’ 2017 tax reform."

The candidate also shared a screenshot of a CBS News headline from a March 21 piece on the funding package that was passed in the early hours of March 22. The article highlights that this package comprises six bills and would prevent a government shutdown until October 2024. It also stops funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees – an action House Speaker Mike Johnson told CBS News was due to its employment of "terrorists who participated in the October 7 attacks against Israel."

Rice's campaign for the Eighth Congressional District emphasizes key areas such as promoting economic growth, upholding fiscal responsibility, enacting tax relief, and addressing issues related to immigration reform and border security. With a 35-year residency in Illinois, Rice currently serves as the CEO of Energy CX, making him a figure in the energy sector. He leads a team of 70 professionals to provide energy solutions, according to rice4congress.com.