[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 158 (Thursday, September 28, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E901-E902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 2023

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 
4365--Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act.
  As with all the additional appropriation bills up for consideration 
on the House Floor, I strongly oppose the passage of this bill for a 
myriad of reasons--including the following:
  It is disappointing this bill does not include funding for a new 
Southwest Border Contingency Fund. This fund would enable DHS to 
respond more effectively to changing conditions on the Southwest border 
and fulfill its critical and complementary missions of securing the 
border, performing efficient and effective screening and processing, 
and meeting the Nation's humanitarian obligations.
  It also shameful that this bill seeks to eliminate the Shelter and 
Services Program, a priority grant program for DHS that provides 
temporary food, shelter, and other services to state and local entities 
and nongovernmental organizations that provide support to migrants who 
are released from DHS custody. This grant program is a key mechanism 
for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to relieve overcrowding in 
short-term holding facilities.
  This bill further fails to provide appropriations for USCIS 
application processing and grant programs. Without this funding, USCIS 
would be unable to improve its operations and the application 
processing backlog would continue to grow in FY 2024.
  It is absolutely abhorrent that this bill eliminates the TVTP grant 
program. TVTP provides funding to nonprofits and to State, local, 
tribal, and territorial governments to develop multidisciplinary 
targeted violence and terrorism prevention capabilities in local 
communities, to pilot innovative prevention approaches, and to identify 
prevention best practices that can be replicated in communities across 
the Nation.
  Targeting violence and terrorism at our borders and throughout our 
Nation is the only way we will be able to combat the incredibly 
intricate and widespread webs of trafficking run by violent gangs and 
terrorists.
  The ability to combat human trafficking and missing and exploited 
children depends on the ability of jurisdictions, organizations, and 
programs to receive government funding and support.
  I also stand with the Administration in strongly opposing section 220 
of the bill, which would prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement (ICE) from using appropriated funds to carry out the 
Administration's immigration enforcement priorities, as well as the

[[Page E902]]

requirement in the bill for ICE to fill 41,500 detention beds and 
enroll all nondetained migrants in Alternatives to Detention. These 
requirements are unrealistic, pose implementation challenges, and would 
dilute the Department's focus on protecting America from security 
threats.
  This bill wrongfully eliminates funding for the Young Adult Case 
Management Program, as well as for Operation Horizon, and grant funds 
for a case management pilot program. These restrictions would 
simultaneously strain limited resources and remove valuable 
flexibilities in managing low-risk populations.
  Prohibiting the transport of noncitizens to interior locations risks 
overcrowding at border processing sites and other DHS facilities, 
threatening to exacerbate life and safety concerns of those in custody.
  Section 222 of the bill is also particularly harmful, which would 
make it more difficult to access lawful reproductive healthcare. I 
stand in strong opposition to this section, which targets LGBTQI + 
individuals who are in ICE detention.
  This bill further prohibits the use of funds to implement the 
Administration's Asylum Processing Rule--which serves as a key part of 
the Administration's efforts to streamline the immigration system, 
allowing USCIS Asylum Officers to hear and decide certain asylum claims 
in the first instance.
  I further oppose the bill's prohibition on using funds to implement 
the Administration's Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Rule. The Rule 
encourages migrants to use lawful, safe, and orderly processes for 
entering the United States; imposes conditions on asylum eligibility 
for those who fail to do so or fail to seek protection in a country 
through which they transit; and supports the swift return of migrants 
who do not have valid protection claims. The bill would undermine DHS's 
continued ability to safely, effectively, and humanely enforce and 
administer U.S. immigration law.
  I also strongly oppose the bill's restrictions on using the CBP One 
application. A key part of the Administration's efforts to foster fair 
and orderly conditions at the border, the CBP One application allows 
border officials to screen migrants seeking asylum along the Southwest 
border, and issue them a document to appear in court upon their 
arrival.
  Lastly, I oppose the homeland security appropriation bill for its 
rescission and reappropriation of $2.1 billion in border wall funding. 
Building a border wall is not a serious policy solution nor is it a 
responsible use of Federal funds.
  In addition, certain provisions of this bill raise separation of 
powers concerns, including by conditioning the Executive's authority to 
take certain actions on receiving the approval of the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations.
  This bill does nothing to advance our ability to fund our government 
appropriately and responsibly. And it also does nothing to prevent a 
shutdown, which is what we should be focusing our time on preventing.
  Aside from being built on a foundation of reneging on the budget 
agreement that was just signed into law, the 2024 Homeland Security 
funding bill squanders billions of dollars on misguided border 
measures, while disregarding the threats presented by terrorists, 
transnational criminals, and violent extremists.
  As outlined above and summarized below, this legislation:
  Wastes over $3.7 billion on ineffective border security and 
immigration policies, while failing to address the ongoing fentanyl and 
opioid crisis and doing nothing to address the growing requirements at 
our ports of entry and interior Border Patrol checkpoints--thus, 
providing a false sense of national security by spending billions on 
outdated and expensive border wall, leaving our ports of entry and 
interior Border Patrol checkpoints vulnerable to the trafficking of 
fentanyl and other illicit narcotics.
  Eliminates critical funding for CBP's border management requirements, 
$2.4 billion below 2023 levels, and fails to fund a third Joint 
Processing Center--thus, cutting necessary funding to manage the border 
safely and securely, putting our DHS workforce and our border 
communities at risk.
  Cuts requested funding to combat terrorism, extremism, and 
cybersecurity attacks by over $232 million--thereby, weakening our 
national security through inadequate cybersecurity and infrastructure 
security investments, opening the U.S. to increased cyberattacks and 
foreign adversary influence and failing to protect our communities from 
violent extremists, underfunding programs that enhance regional 
preparedness and response capabilities, making our communities less 
secure.
  Guts funding for climate-change, climate-resiliency, and facilities 
transformation initiatives by over $748 million--thus, leaving 
Americans vulnerable to the growing number and increasing severity of 
natural disasters by failing to deliver needed resources to mitigate 
the loss of life and property, combat climate change, and support 
climate resilience.
  Reverses our commitments to the TSA workforce cutting funding for 
workforce pay and collective bargaining initiatives by over $469 
million from the request--thus, undermining the Transportation Security 
Administration workforce by unfairly implementing the pay restructuring 
we committed to last Congress.
  Slashes funding for humanitarian programs by over $796 million, 
including family reunification efforts, immigration detention 
oversight, the Citizenship and Integration Grant program, and refugee 
processing--mandating ICE maintain no less than 41,500 detention beds 
and requires all individuals on the non-detained docket enrolled into 
the Alternatives to Detention Program be on GPS monitoring program 
throughout the duration of their immigration proceedings without the 
funding to implement.
  Reduces funding for diversity and inclusion efforts by over $12.5 
million--thereby, setting us back as a nation not only in critical 
recruitment and retention, but in our morals, standards and liberties 
as Americans representing and fighting for and on behalf of a nation 
that can only elevate through advancements in diversity and embracing 
inclusivity.
  This offensive and irresponsible appropriations bill is a shameful 
effort to target underserved, underrepresented, and vulnerable 
populations while only weakening our Nation's defenses and resiliency.
  For all these reasons, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

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