Statement : Homeland Security
July 24, 2019
Statement
"While we confront a serious humanitarian crisis at our southern border, a culture of dehumanization festers in the very agency charged with keeping us safe and serving as the face of American values to those seeking refuge."
July 24, 2019
Statement
"Chief Provost, every member of this subcommittee is committed to improving our security at the border, but we must do it in a way that is consistent with our national values including a commitment to those in need. Unfortunately, that is not happening throughout your agency. We need to talk about what appears to be a dangerous subculture at the agency that cannot be tolerated and must be addressed."
June 11, 2019
Statement
"With this bill, House Democrats continue working to strengthen our national security while reflecting our American values. The bill provides strong investments in disaster relief and anti-terrorism grant programs while putting a check on the cruel immigration enforcement of the Trump Administration. Restrictions in this bill would tighten the reins on the Administration’s practice of transferring funds for purposes other than those intended by Congress, including the dramatic expansion of interior immigration enforcement."
June 11, 2019
Statement
"This bill takes a balanced approach that includes many increases above the current level and the request across the diverse range of the department’s homeland security missions."
June 5, 2019
Statement
"With this bill, House Democrats continue fighting to strengthen our national security while reflecting our American values. It provides strong investments in disaster relief and anti-terrorism grant programs while putting a check on the cruel immigration enforcement of the Trump Administration. Restrictions in this bill would tighten the reins on the Administration’s practice of transferring funds for purposes other than those intended by Congress, including the dramatic expansion of interior immigration enforcement."
June 5, 2019
Statement
"No funding is provided for the border wall or additional border barriers, and a provision is included prohibiting the use of any federal funds for border barrier construction other than funds explicitly appropriated by Congress for that purpose in prior years."
May 1, 2019
Statement
"In March, at a time when then-Secretary Nielsen was focused on managing a surge of migrants at our southern border, the secretary cited cyberthreats as her top priority. She said, 'The cyberdomain is a target, a weapon, and a threat vector all at the same time.' I share her concerns -– not only for federal networks, but also for the nation’s critical infrastructure, because our adversaries are moving and adapting at a pace that far exceeds our own. Yet the FY 2020 request, once again, proposes a reduction to these missions."
April 30, 2019
Statement
"Every FEMA program and activity is critical. That is why I was disappointed that the administration proposes an overall cut of 8.5 percent to FEMA’s budget outside of the Disaster Relief Fund. The proposed cuts are particularly glaring in the Federal Assistance account, which has a proposed 20 percent reduction to the current year budget."
April 30, 2019
Statement
"I want to be clear: ensuring the integrity of our borders and enforcing immigration laws are difficult but necessary jobs. But this administration’s politicization of border security and heartless obsession with aggressive immigration enforcement are un-American and unacceptable."
April 30, 2019
Statement
"With regards to immigration enforcement and the challenges that we face at the border, my hope is we can work together to find a balance between protecting our borders and preserving our American values, which so far has been lacking in this administration."