[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 86 (Monday, June 17, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THE HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF FY2014

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 14, 2013

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2217, the 
FY14 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. I appreciate the bipartisan 
effort put into crafting H.R. 2217 and commend the members of the 
Appropriations Committee for encouraging a collaborative and open 
process. It's unfortunate that at the last minute an anti-immigration 
amendment offered by Representative Steve King of Iowa upset the 
delicate bipartisan balance established in the bill.
  Recent events emphasize the importance of ensuring the availability 
of the resources our country needs to address national emergencies. The 
tornadoes in Oklahoma, the bombings at the Boston Marathon, forest 
fires in California and Colorado are just a few examples of why funding 
for homeland security should always be considered a national priority. 
This bill provides resources to address these and other critical needs 
by directing funding to protect the country's transportation 
infrastructure and cybernetworks, and equally important, to our first 
responders who help to protect our communities and who play a vital 
role in helping keep the nation safe and secure. In total, the bill 
appropriates $38.9 billion for the Department in FY 2014 for these and 
other critical national priorities.
  While I support the level of funding set for Homeland Security in 
this bill, I strongly oppose the funding levels set in the Republican 
budget plan for other key priorities. For example, the Republican 
budget recklessly cuts the category of funding for our kids' education 
and medical research by 20 percent below the sequester level. 
Consequently, I strongly support the President's position that the 
funding levels for Homeland Security must ultimately be considered in 
the context of an overall agreement on the budget. Unfortunately, our 
Republican colleagues in the House and Senate continue to refuse to 
convene a conference to negotiate a budget agreement.
  Additionally, I share the President's concern about the bill's 
failure to fund the request for the Department of Homeland Security 
headquarters consolidation project, which will only delay the project 
further; the bill's failure to fully fund the request for new Customs 
and Borders Protection officers; and the bill's continued funding of 
the unnecessary 287 (g) program when the Secure Communities program is 
a more efficient and cost-effective alternative.
  In that same vein, this year I again opposed the anti-immigration 
amendment offered by Representative King that prohibits the use of 
funds in the bill from being used to implement the so called ``Morton 
Memos.'' These memos were written by ICE Director Morton and provide a 
plan to deploy ICE resources to the most cost effective priorities and 
provide guidance to ensure that limited resources are focused on 
criminals and other individuals who pose a genuine threat to national 
security or public safety. I am disappointed that the House chose to 
again include this provision and it is for that reason that I will 
oppose this bill.

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