DeLauro Remarks on Republicans Blocking Homeland Security Funding

WASHINGTON – Today, House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member delivered the following remarks on the House Floor regarding Republicans’ refusal to support funding legislation for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Secret Service:

I thank the Ranking Member for yielding.

Madam Speaker, last Friday workers across the Department of Homeland Security missed a full paycheck. Reports have shown a number of TSA agents have had to find new jobs, or to take up additional work to make ends meet while their pay is frozen.

This is wrong, and no Democrat wants this. But my Republican colleagues want it. Republicans insist on conditioning funding for TSA workers on more money for ICE. ICE is a lawless and reckless agency, which is terrorizing our community. Masked and armed and marauding and roving through our communities nationwide. 

They will only, the Republicans will only agree to pay TSA officers, FEMA employees, our cybersecurity experts, and Coast Guard servicemembers, if we also provide another $28 billion for ICE and CBP – that is on top of the $140 billion that they already have from the Big Beautiful Bill.

If we defeat the Previous Question I will move to bring up my bill, which will fully fund TSA workers. It will fully fund FEMA – including the Disaster Relief Fund. It will fully fund the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and our cybersecurity efforts. In short, it will fund everything except ICE and CBP. I am tired of the crocodile tears on the other side of the aisle. Of talking about TSA workers and cybersecurity and the Coast Guard. They have a chance to fund these efforts so that people can get paid. They refuse to do it.

Republican leadership blocks this bill. Their approach is all-or-nothing. It is not enough for them if we fund the vast majority of Homeland Security – if we pay workers who follow the law, people who keep us safe, who do not harass us, do not detain us, do not beat us up, do not abuse our constituents at whim, or kill American citizens.

No – they will not support any measure unless it gives ICE and CBP more money, without any of the protections our communities need, and the American people demand.

If Republicans allow my measure to come to a vote we could end the impasse today. Hardworking Americans will get paid. Have the courage to stand up and do it. I encourage them to do so.

Thank you, and I yield back.

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