[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 33 (Friday, February 22, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.J. RES. 31, FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS 
               FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, 2019

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. SUZANNE BONAMICI

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 14, 2019

  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for 
this government spending bill negotiated by the bipartisan Conference 
Committee. Although the bill is not what I would have drafted, and I 
recognize that we still have much work to do in the area of humane 
immigration reform, we simply cannot have another painful, costly, and 
unnecessary shutdown. The members of our Coast Guard, TSA, and other 
federal agencies are still recovering from the most recent shutdown. 
They deserve certainty, and they need to know that they can continue 
working and that they will be paid on time. The President must also act 
responsibly and fulfill his duty to federal workers and those who rely 
on government services by signing this legislation.
  This bill includes many victories I am proud to support; it delivers 
a pay raise to federal workers to keep pace with the cost of living, 
invests in the Census to provide a fair and accurate count for 
underrepresented communities, and dedicates $17 billion in new 
infrastructure funding to improve our roads, bridges, and mass transit. 
The legislation increases investments in small business initiatives for 
minority and women-owned businesses, which will create jobs. The bill 
also rejects the Trump Administration's attacks on the environment by 
denying deep cuts to programs that protect clean water, clean air, and 
public lands.
  As with any compromise, I have serious reservations about some of the 
provisions in this bill--particularly regarding immigration 
enforcement. I appreciate that our conferees were able to prevent the 
wasteful inclusion of any increased funding for an ineffective border 
wall and include humanitarian assistance funding for migrants, but the 
House must continue to push for smarter, more compassionate use of 
resources for border security and immigration enforcement. I am 
concerned that this bill gives the Department of Homeland Security too 
much leeway to continue the unchecked targeting and detention of 
immigrants who pose no threat to public safety, rather than focusing 
enforcement efforts on high-priority criminals.
  I continue to support having the appropriate personnel, equipment, 
facilities, and resources to address crime and trafficking on our 
borders, but immigration enforcement should not be militarized and 
operate with impunity. We can treat individuals in a humane and just 
manner and still prevent crime, reduce trafficking, and keep our 
country safe. People fleeing violence in their home countries and 
seeking asylum in the United States need to be protected, not 
threatened with more persecution. We must enact commonsense changes to 
improve accountability and protect the fundamental rights of 
immigrants--especially those legally seeking asylum. I will keep 
pushing for rigorous oversight of ICE and reforms to our immigration 
enforcement system.
  This legislation is the product of good-faith negotiations between 
bipartisan leaders in the House and Senate. I am hopeful that this 
result demonstrates the futility of chaotic brinksmanship, and I hope 
that we can learn from this experience to resolve differences through 
dialogue and trust in the legislative process.

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