[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 79 (Friday, June 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1052-E1053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    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. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the FY12 Homeland 
Security Appropriations Act.
  The bill makes severe cuts to the funding available to front line 
employees of the Department of Homeland Security for critical 
operations along our borders, at our nation's airports and seaports, 
and for responding to natural disasters. The bill also reduces funding 
for state and local preparedness grant programs.
  The bill provides a total of $1 billion for all State and local 
grants and $350 million for Firefighter Assistance Grants. 
Respectively, these figures are 65 percent and 50 percent below an 
already reduced request. Given the budgetary challenges already faced 
by our states, these cuts, if permitted to survive through the 
legislative process, could be devastating. According to the 
International Association of Fire Fighters, 1,600 fewer local 
firefighters will be on the job if the cuts in this bill are enacted 
into law. Such deep cuts will damage local preparedness, emergency 
response and the economic recovery.
  I was happy to vote for an amendment offered by Ranking Member Price 
that permits states and local governments to rehire laid-off 
firefighters and to prevent others from being laid off. The amendment 
also waives certain budgetary requirements local fire departments have 
to fulfill to qualify for a grant. But, even with the addition of this 
important amendment, I cannot support a Homeland Security funding bill 
that ultimately makes the homeland less secure.

[[Page E1053]]

  The House voted to include on the floor an amendment offered by 
Representative Mica that stripped hundreds of millions of dollars out 
of the Transportation Security Administration's budget and an amendment 
offered by Representative Rokita that limits the collective bargaining 
rights of TSA employees. These amendments will devastate morale among 
the TSA workforce and, by slashing TSA's resources, will make Americans 
less safe.
  I will monitor the progress of this bill in the Senate and 
conference. I am hopeful that future changes and improvements will give 
me a chance to vote on a more acceptable alternative.

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