[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 22, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H4373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 URGING THE SENATE TO PASS THE FISCAL YEAR 2012 DHS APPROPRIATIONS BILL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Carter) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the Democrat leadership 
in the Senate to immediately take up the fiscal year 2012 Department of 
Homeland Security appropriations bill which was passed by this House on 
June 2. With the 10th anniversary of the tragic attacks of September 11 
rapidly approaching, the proliferation of violence along the southern 
border and natural disasters, it is irresponsible for Senate Democrats 
to hold up this bill any longer.
  The House-passed bill included $1 billion in supplemental funding for 
FEMA disaster relief programs that is available immediately upon 
passage. These funds are desperately needed to respond to natural 
disasters that have swept the country, including the wildfires which 
have devastated my home State of Texas.
  The House-passed bill uses taxpayer dollars wisely, cutting $1.1 
billion from fiscal year 2011 levels while at the same time ensuring 
all frontline defenders, including the Border Patrol, Coast Guard and 
Secret Service, are fully funded. In delaying action on this bill, the 
Democratic leadership in the Senate is putting the security of American 
citizens at risk and disaster relief on hold. Any further delay is 
unacceptable.
  I urge my Senate colleagues to make the passage of the FY 2012 DHS 
appropriations bill a top priority.

                          ____________________