[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 34 (Friday, February 27, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H1376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              DHS SHUTDOWN

  (Mr. PETERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge House Republican 
leadership to put a clean bill to fund the Department of Homeland 
Security on the floor for a vote.
  It is our job to lead this great Nation, and America deserves better 
than political gamesmanship. The threats facing our country are real. 
The Department of Homeland Security is on the front lines making sure 
our communities are safe. They secure our boarders and ports and ensure 
airports are safe for millions of travelers.
  If Congress fails to fund DHS, 169,000 Border Patrol agents, Customs 
and Border Protection officers, TSA aviation and security screeners, 
and Active Duty Coast Guard military will report to work but will not 
receive a paycheck. And that is just wrong.
  I joined several of my colleagues this week to introduce legislation 
to withhold congressional pay if Homeland Security is shut down. It is 
simple: if the hardworking men and women in the Department of Homeland 
Security will continue to go to work but not receive a paycheck, 
Members of Congress who have failed to do their job should not receive 
a paycheck either.
  Let's do the right thing. Cleanly fund our Homeland Security and quit 
political gamesmanship.

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