[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 78 (Thursday, June 2, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1023]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 1, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2017) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chair, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's 
homeland security grant programs are dangerously underfunded in the 
legislation we are considering today. I rise in support of the 
amendment I have joined my friend and colleague from New York in 
offering which would restore funding to these critical programs.
  When we debate and pass bills that fund the functions of the federal 
government, we have to make real decisions about what we believe are 
the priorities of our nation. In this bill, we see where funding for 
critical homeland security programs fall. In this bill, House 
Republicans have decided to cut more than $1 billion from current 
funding from programs that go toward rail security, port security, and 
the Urban Areas Security Initiative. In this bill, House Republicans 
cut $420 million for grants to firefighters and first responders.
  Mr. Chair, I agree that we have to make tough decisions when it comes 
to funding the federal government. But balancing the budget on the 
backs of our nation's firefighters and first responders and at the 
expense of the security of our communities is irresponsible.
  So, what are the Republicans' priorities? They choose to eviscerate 
funding for critical homeland security programs in order to fund tax 
cuts for big oil companies. They tell local fire departments that the 
federal government just can't afford to support them anymore, but then 
turn around and make sure that oil companies, who could collectively 
make more than $140 billion in profits this year, are protected from 
paying their fair share.
  Mr. Chair, those might be the priorities of the House Republicans, 
but they are not the priorities of the American people. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this important amendment and 
letting our nation's firefighters and first responders know that we are 
standing up for them here in Washington while they are standing up to 
protect our communities back home.

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