[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 11, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         FUND HOMELAND SECURITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, the President has issued an AUMF, which 
is the authority to determine the questions of war and peace, 
particularly in light of the dangers we face with ISIS. In spite of 
that, we are holding hostage the funding of the armor of security for 
this Nation, the Department of Homeland Security, the committee upon 
which I have sat since the horrible, heinous act of 9/11.
  We take our work very seriously. We know that we oversee the national 
security of this Nation, along with the very important aspect and 
leadership of our Defense Department. Every day, we are mindful of the 
roles that individuals play who are a part of the Department of 
Homeland Security.
  Rather than looking to be concerned about the dangers of 
unaccompanied children, as our Republican friends seem to be, 
challenging the President's thoughtful executive actions within the 
context of his constitutional authority, we are now using those reasons 
for holding hostage the very armor of domestic security.
  Mr. Speaker, let me tell you, the TSA officers that I see as I travel 
around this country are front liners. I speak to them all the time. 
They have protected this Nation from various attacks--or potential 
attacks, might I say--stopping threats that many of us are not even 
aware of. These very faithful workers, along with border security 
workers, will have to work without pay. There will have to be a 
reordering of the strategies of the Secretary of Homeland Security.
  Mr. Speaker, 40,000 Border Patrol agents; 50,000 TSA personnel; 
13,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, officers; 40,000 
Coast Guard; and 4,000 Secret Service officers will be threatened by 
this.
  And so, Mr. Speaker, I demand that we do the right thing, with 8 
legislative days left. Fund the Department of Homeland Security. Speak 
in a tone that is that of America. Defend our Nation. Protect our 
Nation. Stop this politicizing of the funding of the Department of 
Homeland Security.
  I ask the Republicans to join me in an important patriotic effort. 
Fund the Department of Homeland Security.

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