Speech #1140008542

Lets remember that we are talking about some of the most critical security personnel who are working to keep Americans safeshuttering the DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office. which would no longer alert and coordinate with local law enforcement agencies. and withholding the Securing the Cities grants that pay for critical nuclear detection capacities in cities across the country. halting research and development work on countermeasures to devastating biological threats. on nuclear detection equipment. and on cargo and passenger screening technologies. crippling FEMAs preparations for future disasters. furloughing nearly 22 percent of FEMA personnel. and ending FEMAs training activities with local law enforcement for weapons of mass destruction events. Although some DHS employees would continue to work in the event of a shutdown. they would be forced to work without pay. creating a significant distraction and dealing a direct blow to morale. Among those who would be affected and expected to protect Americans without getting paid would be more than 40.000 Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection agents. more than 50.000 TSA aviation security screeners. more than 13.000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement law enforcement agents and officers. more than 40.000 ActiveDuty Coast Guard military members. and more than 4.000 Secret Service law enforcement agents and officers. Holding hostage funding of DHS for the purpose of overturning the Presidents executive actions on immigration is wrong. President Obama was forced to take action because of the inaction of this House to consider a bipartisan. comprehensive immigration reform bill that the Senate passed last year. Here we are again. yet with more inaction. We cannot waste any more time here with political bickering. and it is not fair to try to hijack Homeland Security funding with an antiimmigration agenda. The security of our Nation and our people hang in the balance. Again. no more government shutdowns. no more Federal furloughs. no more sequestrationlets get to work. come together. answer the call of our constituents. and just pass a clean bill for DHS funding.