[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 159 (Friday, September 29, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024

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                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 2023

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4367, the 
Republican FY24 Department of Homeland Security Act.
  This bill is another example of House Republican leadership appeasing 
the most extreme members of their caucus and is another funding bill 
that has no path to become law. With the passage of the rule on 
Tuesday, Republicans decided to hold this bill hostage. For H.R. 4367 
to even be sent to the Senate, Republicans are demanding that the 
Senate pass and the president sign their extreme immigration bill, the 
Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2). When it passed the House in May, 
President Biden had already stated he would not sign it.
  This week, Republicans continued to add to the chaos when the House 
Rules Committee met late at night Wednesday and sent another rule to 
the floor with self-executing provisions that cater to the most extreme 
Republicans. Members like Representatives Gaetz and Boebert demanded 
significantly reduced H-2B visas that help fill workforce shortages and 
Republican leadership caved to their demands in order to pass the bill. 
By continuing to only negotiate with the farthest right members of 
their conference, House Republican leaders are not serious about 
preventing a government shutdown.
  H.R. 4367 contains misguided investments that double down on failed 
border policy by redirecting $2.1 billion to border wall construction 
while divesting from proven, modern detection technology. The bill also 
contains more extreme rightwing policy riders targeting the 
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's ability to defend 
Americans against disinformation campaigns from foreign adversaries and 
domestic extremists.
  As we continue to feel the effects of a changing climate, Republicans 
have also cut all climate resiliency funding from the Homeland Security 
bill--over $748 million in investments to ensure that as the global 
climate changes, America is prepared for the effects of stronger 
storms, higher temperatures, and increased migration. The Department of 
Defense has declared climate change a national security threat, as 
regions become uninhabitable, and people are forced to move from their 
homes. By passing this Homeland Security bill, Republicans continue to 
ignore the fact that climate change is a real and imminent threat to 
American lives and communities.
  I cannot support a partisan Homeland Security bill that does not 
focus on real solutions to the issues our country faces.

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