Lowey Statement on GOP 3-week Homeland Security Continuing Resolution

“The Republican majority’s continuing failure to enact a FY15 Homeland Security Appropriations bill is a staggering display of legislative incompetence.

“Democratic and Republican negotiators reached a deal on Homeland Security funding levels and related policy issues in December.  Republican leadership made the political calculation to hold this funding hostage to ideological policy riders reversing the President’s executive actions on immigration.

“Having failed to extort these policy concessions, the Senate will pass a clean Homeland Security funding bill.  Yet five months after the beginning of the fiscal year, House leadership continues to dither with continuing resolutions, keeping alive the threat of shutdown affecting the agencies that protect our ports, borders, aviation system, communities, and more.

“There is nothing conservative about forcing critical agencies to rely on outdated funding levels and policies, or preventing a $40 billion cabinet-level department from planning more than 3 weeks in advance.  It is inefficient, irrational, and an abdication of Congress’s Constitutional responsibilities.

“Again, I call on Republican leadership to end this charade and pass a clean Homeland Security funding bill, which every House Democrat has committed to supporting and needs a mere 30 Republican votes to pass.”

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