DeLauro Statement on Homeland Security Funding Lapse

WASHINGTON – Today, House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) released the following statement ahead of a lapse in funding for the Department of Homeland Security:

"At midnight, funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapses. Republicans are responsible for this lapse which will force Transportation Security Officers to work without pay, severely reduce disaster relief funding, and negatively impact Coast Guard, Secret Service, and cybersecurity personnel. Services will be scaled back and workers will be furloughed.

“The Department of Homeland Security is shutting down tonight because Republicans refuse to implement popular reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection – the agencies responsible for the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

“The reforms that Democrats are demanding are backed by strong majorities of Americans. Requiring agents to get a warrant from a judge before kicking in someone’s door, removing masks and presenting identification, stopping stakeouts of schools, hospitals, and houses of worship, prohibiting racial profiling, requiring the use of body cameras, establishing a legally binding use-of-force policy, allowing independent investigations into misconduct, ending roving patrols, and preventing U.S. citizens from being detained or deported are all favored by an overwhelming majority of the public.

“I have introduced a bill (H.R. 7481) that would fund the Department of Homeland Security, except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the Office of the Secretary, while negotiations continue over much-needed reforms to those agencies.

“The law-abiding agencies under the Department of Homeland Security should not be held hostage because Republicans refuse to agree to popular reforms for lawless agencies.” 

Bill text for H.R. 7481 can be found here.

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