Lowey Statement on Department of Homeland Security 2015 Budget Request

I’d like to thank Chairman Rodgers, Judge Carter, and Ranking Member Price for their leadership.  This subcommittee values our role in protecting our homeland as well as the bipartisan working relationship we foster to meet this goal.

Mr. Secretary, as you appear before the House Appropriations Committee for the first time, I welcome you.  Last year there were acts of terror in Boston, growing cyber attacks on America’s businesses, and drug cartel violence along the U.S.-Mexico border that has resulted in the murder of 60,000 people since 2006 and turned some border towns into war zones.  These challenges alone make for a difficult job, and yet you oversee 16 different agencies and offices, which is no small feat. I wish you luck and stand ready to work with you to provide our first responders, border patrol officers, special agents, and every federal law enforcement officer with the resources to keep our country safe. 

The President’s budget, yet again, proposes to consolidate FEMA State and local grants into a large pot, without authorization from Congress, and expressly against the wishes of this Committee.  Such a consolidation could dilute crucial anti-terrorism funds from areas most at risk of attacks and leave transit and port security in the nation’s most densely populated areas without the ability to prevent and respond to acts of terror.  In addition, the Department’s assumption that the job is complete in New York City is premature, and a reduction in Securing the Cities funding could leave New York City without the radiological and nuclear detection capabilities it needs.

With that said, I commend the President for his efforts to put Americans back to work while making investments that will support our infrastructure.  The Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative, if implemented, would provide $400 million for pre-hazard mitigation assistance.  With natural disasters becoming more frequent, severe, and costly, these funds would be a worthy investment in our resiliency and infrastructure.  

Lastly, every day the best and brightest come to America to study and work, and then due to our broken immigration system, return home to compete against us in a global market.  This makes no sense.  Businesses, security professionals, and labor all agree that every day without comprehensive immigration reform is a missed opportunity.  I hope that the House will take up H.R.15, nearly identical to the Senate bill that passed with bipartisan support, and that when you come before us next year we will discuss how the President’s FY16 budget meets the implementation needs of this important legislation.  Thank you.