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




        DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    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:

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to the Fiscal 
Year 2012 Homeland Security appropriations bill, H.R. 2017 brought to 
the House floor by the Republican majority.
  The problems with H.R. 2017 began even before the legislation was 
considered by the House. The rule to allow debate on H.R. 2017 enacts 
the House Republican's highly controversial budget plan to end Medicare 
as we know it. I voted with every Democratic Member of the House to 
oppose this rule--H. Res. 287--and to protect tomorrow's seniors from 
being forced to pay an average of $6,000 in additional health care 
costs every year. My Republican colleagues should be admonished for 
their decision to begin debate on a bill intended to safeguard American 
citizens with a rule that undermines the health and economic security 
of every American senior.
  The Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security appropriations measure fails 
to meet the public safety needs of communities in Minnesota and across 
the country. H.R. 2017 undermines support for our local law enforcement 
partners by slashing funding for firefighter assistance grants and 
State Homeland Security Grants, which are used primarily for training 
and equipping first responders. The International Association of 
Firefighters (IAFF) said of the legislation: ``At a time when state and 
local public safety budgets are shrinking, it is unconscionable to 
implement cuts of this magnitude.'' The National Association of 
Counties is opposing H.R. 2017, arguing that reductions in critical 
grant programs cripple the ability of communities of all sizes to 
prepare for a range of threats, including potential nuclear, chemical, 
and biological attacks.
  Moreover, H.R. 2017 does not include sufficient funding for transit 
agencies to hire additional law enforcement officers, acquire bomb 
sniffing dogs, or install explosive screening devices. Funding to 
states and localities to secure sensitive tunnels and bridges and 
install surveillance systems in other high-risk areas is significantly 
reduced. This bill does not provide sufficient funds to protect harbors 
from terrorist threats or train maritime law enforcement personnel to 
safeguard U.S. ports.
  Even, however, with cuts this extreme, the Republicans fund 
discredited projects. The notorious ``287(g)'' program founded by the 
Bush administration, and abused by such anti-immigrant zealots as 
Arizona Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio had its funding increased by 
millions of dollars. Sheriff Arapaio is under investigation for 
discrimination and illegal searches and seizures during his so-called 
``immigration sweeps'' using the 287(g) program.
  This bill undercuts federal partnerships with local law enforcement 
and reduces America's capacity to respond to natural disasters, 
criminal actions and potential terrorist attacks. And the rule for this 
bill forces enactment of a reckless Republican budget that breaks faith 
with America's seniors and forces unnecessary cuts to education, 
innovation and infrastructure to pay for another tax cut for the 
wealthiest Americans. I will vote no on H.R. 2017 and urge my 
colleagues to do the same.

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