[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 26, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H4167-H4208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1115
        DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025


                             General Leave

  Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on H.R. 8752, and that I may include 
tabular material on the same.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316 and rule 
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House 
on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 8752.
  The Chair appoints the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks) to 
preside over the Committee of the Whole.

                              {time}  1115


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 8752) making appropriations for the Department of Homeland 
Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and for other 
purposes, with Mrs. Miller-Meeks in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the 
first time.
  General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed 1 
hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority 
member of

[[Page H4168]]

the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees.
  The gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei) and the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Underwood) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada.
  Mr. AMODEI. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I thank the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Cole, for his 
leadership throughout the fiscal year 2025 process and his support as 
we continue to take conservative appropriations bills to the floor.
  I also thank the ranking member of the full committee, Ms. DeLauro, 
and the ranking member of the subcommittee, Ms. Underwood, who worked 
with us in good faith on the bill despite some disagreements on policy. 
I thank them for the opportunity to kick off this appropriations 
season, if you will, and I am looking forward to getting started here.
  Lastly, I express my gratitude to the staff on both sides for their 
tireless efforts. As we all know, without them, this would be a pretty 
tough thing and a much different thing to do.
  Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume, and I rise in opposition to the majority's Homeland Security 
appropriations bill for 2025.
  First, I want to start by acknowledging the hard work of those who 
are serving on the front lines at the Department of Homeland Security. 
They are making sacrifices every day to protect this country, and I am 
committed to recognizing that. Many of the policies I pushed to have 
included in the bill acknowledge both the challenges and obstacles 
these men and women face.
  For example, today's bill includes key priorities that focus on 
expanding employee wellness and suicide prevention programs, including 
funding additional wellness centers that build upon the successes of 
the El Paso pilot, providing resources to increase accountability at 
the Coast Guard as we work to protect cadets from sexual harassment and 
assault, and improving access to contraceptives for Coast Guard 
servicemembers and their family members.
  However, despite these silver linings, the fiscal year 2025 Homeland 
Security appropriations bill put forward by Republicans falls short of 
addressing our country's real and urgent needs.
  The legislation not only increases funding for inhumane, costly, and 
ineffective responses to the humanitarian crisis at our border, but it 
also cuts $2.1 billion to border security operations, including the 
complete elimination of the shelter and services program and the 
critical resources our U.S. Border Patrol agents need to secure the 
border.
  Let me be clear: Eliminating the shelter and services program will 
not stop migration. It will only prevent communities from managing 
surges humanely and safely, ensuring chaos and desperation across our 
country.
  The bill also guts funding for refugee and asylum programs and even 
includes a provision that would cut over $300 million in fee funding 
for the asylum program. The proposed cuts to the asylum program would 
only further overwhelm our broken immigration system and ensure that 
more people are released from DHS custody without legal status. That 
outcome is not good for anyone.
  The funding choices made by the majority in this bill will result in 
more people being released into the interior while they likely wait 
years for their case to be decided.
  The disappointing truth is that this bill doubles down on outdated, 
ineffective border strategies that ignore reality and will waste 
billions in taxpayer dollars. These ineffective policies will leave our 
communities exposed to humanitarian crises without the resources 
necessary to respond.
  With this bill, House Republicans are turning their back on U.S. 
Border Patrol agents and the critical funds they need to maintain safe 
and humane facilities.
  The failures of this bill continue. This bill also underfunds 
critical cyber defense programs, leaving Americans vulnerable and 
unprepared to deal with cyber threats at a time when our schools, 
hospitals, and critical infrastructure are under constant attack.
  In the face of threats of terrorism and violent extremism that have 
been highlighted by both the prior and current administrations, this 
bill eliminates funding for the Center for Prevention Programs and 
Partnerships, eliminates funding for the targeted violence and 
terrorism prevention grant program, cuts funding for the Countering 
Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, and includes statutory restrictions 
that would prevent the Department from taking the important actions 
needed to reverse the alarming trends we see in violent extremism and 
terrorism.

  If passed as written, this bill would leave our communities with 
nothing to address some of the most urgent threats we are facing across 
the United States. This legislation reflects a missed opportunity to 
work in a bipartisan manner to prioritize the needs of our Nation, 
respond to existing and emerging threats, and address the concerns 
Americans have expressed about our immigration system, national 
security, climate change, and more.
  The challenges our country faces cannot be overstated. We are living 
in unprecedented times, and the American people are looking for 
Congress to set aside partisan politics and do the right thing. 
Unfortunately, this bill misses the mark and ignores our country's most 
pressing needs. That is why I cannot support it in its current form.
  Earlier this week, President Biden issued a statement confirming that 
he would veto this bill if presented with it.
  We must do better and work collaboratively on a bill that would meet 
the real and urgent needs of our Nation. In its current state, this 
bill does not do that.
  Madam Chair, I urge my majority colleagues to abandon this partisan 
theater and work with Democrats to produce a bipartisan bill that puts 
people over politics and funds the priorities that will keep our 
country safe, healthy, and prepared to face the challenges with 
resolve.
  Madam Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. AMODEI. Madam Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Chair, I yield 6 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the distinguished ranking member of the 
Appropriations Committee.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the Republican 
majority's Homeland Security appropriations bill.
  First, I wish to thank the subcommittee staff in the majority and 
minority for their efforts, especially Bob Joachim and Shannon McCully. 
I also thank the ranking member for yielding time.
  This Homeland Security bill fails to secure the border and instead 
stokes chaos and disorder, wasting hundreds of millions in taxpayer 
dollars along the way.
  The House majority has rejected every serious legislative effort to 
address and lessen the crisis at the border. They rejected one of the 
toughest bipartisan border bills in history that had a viable path to 
passage, pronouncing it dead without any debate.
  When the President asked for additional resources to secure the 
border, my colleagues across the aisle ignored that as well, even after 
they told us that we had to ``take care of our border first'' before we 
could provide any funding to Ukraine and our other allies.
  Madam Chair, we provided the necessary funding to our allies, for 
which I am very grateful, but we failed our responsibilities to give 
Border Patrol agents and other law enforcement the resources needed to 
manage the crisis at the border and to stop our communities from being 
overwhelmed by a disorderly and outdated immigration system.
  Democrats were ready to consider the bipartisan solution that had 
been reached by the United States Senate negotiators, but at the 
eleventh hour, it was the other side of the aisle that insisted that it 
could no longer support securing our border as part of the national 
security package. They would not even let us debate the bill.
  Let me point out what policies the majority rejected and left on the 
table: one, establishing a border emergency

[[Page H4169]]

authority to shut down the border when our system gets overwhelmed; 
two, ending the widespread releases of recent border crossers by 
establishing and funding noncustodial government supervision for those 
eligible to remain and a rapid consequence system for those who are 
not; three, closing loopholes in our asylum system that are exploited 
by criminal cartels; four, funding 50,000 detention beds; five, funding 
additional agents and officers for Customs and Border Protection; and 
the list goes on.
  That bipartisan legislation was supported by the National Border 
Patrol Council, which is the Border Patrol agents' own union, the 
Chamber of Commerce, and the South Texas Alliance of Cities.
  As far as being serious about solving anything at all, the bill 
before us is simply a facade. In the midst of a crisis situation at our 
southern border, the majority's bill cuts border security operations by 
$2.1 billion. It is a 25 percent cut from fiscal year 2024. Are they 
serious about border security when they cut $2.1 billion?
  The bill wastes taxpayer money on impractical border measures and 
ineffective barriers. This bill withholds the resources needed to 
manage the border, to process and vet the increased number of people 
arriving in the United States, and to support border communities and 
cities that are receiving migrants across the country.
  Why would we not want to help our border communities and our cities, 
the very places in our districts confronting this crisis? This is a 
missed opportunity to support humane pathways and processes for people 
who require and are legally entitled to refuge in our country, and it 
is a missed opportunity to reinforce our security, our preparedness, 
and our response capabilities.
  The majority's bill weakens our national security with inadequate 
cyber and infrastructure security investments and by failing to counter 
extremism. The bill specifically restrains the government's ability to 
counter disinformation campaigns, which are being used by global 
adversaries and foreign actors seeking to undermine our elections.

  The majority's Homeland Security bill once again includes dozens of 
pointless and cruel policy riders that harm women, divide Americans, 
divide the Congress, and create chaos.
  We all know the final funding bills will require bipartisan 
negotiations to make sound investments, but the majority's process is 
driving Congress toward further chaos, dysfunction, and shutdown 
threats.
  Madam Chair, I ask that the majority please reconsider the path they 
are on. When they do, I look forward to improving this bill so that we 
can manage our border responsibly and invest in programs that make our 
country more secure. It is time for the majority to govern.
  Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill.
  Mr. AMODEI. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the distinguished ranking member of 
the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies 
Subcommittee.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I thank the ranking member for 
yielding and congratulate her on presenting her first appropriations 
bill on the House floor. We are all behind her.
  I rise in strong opposition to the Republicans' fiscal year 2025 
Homeland Security bill, which neglects the real threats that we face 
from anti-Semitism, extremism, and domestic terror, and promises to 
throw our southern border into chaos.
  After walking away from a robust, bipartisan border security deal all 
to pander to Donald Trump, the GOP has finally offered up its 
alternative.
  Since this is nothing more than a messaging exercise, I want to make 
sure my constituents get the message. Republicans are slashing 
resources for border management and immigration processing. They are 
hanging border communities out to dry by defunding shelters and 
services. They neglect the founding mission of the Department of 
Homeland Security by eliminating terrorism prevention funds. You just 
can't make this stuff up.
  This bill also rolls back successful Biden administration policies 
like family reunification and humanitarian parole. Worse, it doubles 
down on ultra-MAGA policies like separating children from parents and 
racial profiling, and it inflicts cruel bans on reproductive 
healthcare.
  As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I led Democrats 
in committee, demanding full funding for critical programs like 
nonprofit security grants, which defend our communities against surging 
anti-Semitism and hate crimes. In the months following October 7, 
harassment, vandalism, and assaults against Jews increased by over 360 
percent, with nearly 9,000 documented examples across all 50 States. 
Federal hate crime investigations shot up by 60 percent since then, and 
the majority of cases involve threats against Jews, who comprise just 2 
percent of the U.S. population.

                              {time}  1130

  Every single Republican Member voted to waste that money on a useless 
border wall instead, which Mexico still isn't paying for, by the way, 
rather than protecting their Jewish constituents.
  This bill is more concerned with protecting the reputations of 
extremists who spread anti-Semitic disinformation than it is with 
protecting the lives of Jewish Americans. That is shameful.
  We know the result of failing to provide these spaces with the 
protection they need. Communities of all faiths have been devastated by 
hateful extremists.
  We must direct our limited Homeland Security resources against real 
threats we face, not toward some fictional invasion or against women's 
reproductive healthcare or against rainbow flags or providing political 
cover for your convicted felon ringleader.
  Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject these political games and 
get serious about funding our immigration system and securing our 
communities against extremist terror.
  Mr. AMODEI. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Chair, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Hawaii (Mr. Case), a member of the Appropriations Committee.
  Mr. CASE. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this measure as it is 
presented to us. I truly regret that as a member of the subcommittee, I 
cannot support this bill today, as it does include several bipartisan 
measures that do deserve our support.
  Perhaps the best example of this is the $14.2 billion provided to the 
Coast Guard, an increase of $1.3 billion over the last fiscal year. 
This funding does reflect the hard-earned recognition of the Coast 
Guard's unique role and capability in defending American priorities and 
advancing our engagement in the face of geopolitical competition, 
especially in the Indo-Pacific.
  The $60 million proposed by the bill will allow the Coast Guard to 
base another medium endurance cutter in the Pacific. The $1.2 million 
provided for the Coast Guard's Indo-Pacific workforce project, and 
other report language and funding provisions for their expanded 
presence in the Pacific Islands region, are encouraging to see, and 
they do demonstrate that we can work in a bipartisan manner to get 
things done.
  Despite some sound decisions here and there in other parts of the 
bill, it remains riddled with misguided avoidance and other priorities 
that I cannot support. Nowhere is this more evident than in its 
treatment of the overall subject of immigration in general and securing 
our border in particular.
  The Department of Homeland Security, which has been so vilified by 
many of my colleagues over the last months and years, needs and is 
entitled to our support to administer existing laws. Yet, this bill 
fails to address the wide range of needs that it is mandated to 
discharge, and to anticipate and set up and advance a realistic 
discussion of our immigration policy in general and border security in 
particular.
  Here are three examples. First of all, the bill strips $300 million 
from the asylum program, gutting the Department's ability to address 
acknowledged and real case backlog and keep pace with new arrivals at 
the border. We all know that the reality of the border today is largely 
related to, I believe, required changes in our immigration

[[Page H4170]]

and asylum policy. This bill does not allow the Department of Homeland 
Security to do its job under current law.
  It also threatens to severely underfund the Operations and Support 
account of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service and eliminates 
funding for the Citizenship and Immigration grant program that prepares 
legal immigrants for civic integration. I am not sure what we are 
supposed to take from that deletion. Are we supposed to take that we 
don't support legal immigration and that we don't support civic 
integration?
  It also eliminates the Shelter and Services program, which will 
withhold the resources needed for American communities around the 
country working to humanely and safely deal with the challenges of our 
broken immigration system, the realities of our broken immigration 
system.
  None of this is policy. This is not constructive legislation. This is 
outright antipathy, in many cases, toward a legal immigration system, 
it is messaging, and it does nothing to solve anything.
  If we think there is a problem--and I believe we all do believe there 
is a problem with our immigration system in general and border security 
in particular, then let's talk about it. Let's try to resolve it on a 
bipartisan basis and then let's fund the policies that we have set. 
Let's not defund the institutions that are responsible for 
administering policies that we believe are broken but it is their 
responsibility to do so right now.
  This bill, despite these misguided provisions, does show it is 
possible to work together in a bipartisan manner, including these very 
difficult issues on immigration. We should go back to the table and 
focus on that.
  I do look forward to working with our colleagues to amend the bill to 
remove these harmful partisan policy riders and focus on providing the 
critical funding needed by the Department.
  Mr. AMODEI. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Mrs. Ramirez).
  Mrs. RAMIREZ. Madam Chair, I rise in the most strong opposition to 
H.R. 8752.
  As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, my level of 
frustration with the Republicans' Homeland Security budget is really 
hard to actually overstate.
  We can all agree that the Homeland Security appropriations bill 
should protect our communities. It should also extend our national 
security, and it should do so while fulfilling our commitment to the 
international community.
  Yet the Republican majority's bill doubles down on bad policies and 
proven failures.
  There are too many destructive, cruel, and draconian policies in this 
bill to outline in a very limited time, but let me highlight a few of 
them.
  There is $600 million for the construction of a border wall to 
embolden cartels and endanger our communities, environment, and sacred 
lands; $4.1 billion for ICE to detain and traumatize families seeking 
safety and stability; defunding USCIS to increase immigration 
processing backlogs, making it harder to identify possible threats to 
our communities, which seems hypocritical considering we say this is 
about the homeland and protecting our communities; defunding the 
critical Shelter and Services program to create chaos in cities 
fulfilling our Nation's promise, like Chicago; and endangering the 
lives of asylum seekers across our Nation; defunding community-based 
alternatives to detention that are actually creating more of a cost 
burden to taxpayers.
  If your goal is to sow chaos, if your goal is to weaken 
intergovernmental collaboration, to deconstruct effective policies, to 
undermine collaboration, to decrease efficiencies, and to destroy 
families, well then this is, in fact, your bill.
  Madam Chair, don't let overt anti-asylum, anti-immigrant racism 
masqueraded as fiscal responsibility and protection of the homeland 
fool you. The legislation does not fund the core responsibilities of 
the Department that protects the homeland, and it doesn't fulfill our 
commitment to our neighbors, reflecting the best part of who we say 
proudly we are as a Nation.
  Madam Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote.
  Mr. AMODEI. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Chair, I am prepared to close, and I yield 
myself the balance of my time for closing.
  This bill falls short of what Americans deserve. It cuts necessary 
funding to secure our border, it defunds critical counterterrorism and 
cybersecurity programs when we should be looking to invest more, and it 
abandons our core values as Americans.
  I will be voting ``no'' on this bill. I encourage my colleagues to do 
the same.
  Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. AMODEI. Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  It is the border. It is the border. It is the border. We have heard 
about messaging. We have heard about managing, all of that sort of 
stuff, and still here we are.
  The bill under consideration this morning provides $64.8 billion for 
the Department of Homeland Security. When we hear about turning our 
backs, that is an increase of $2.9 billion above the fiscal year 2024 
level.
  The bill prioritizes investments that make the border--remember, it 
is about the border--more secure and makes appropriate cuts to policies 
and programs that, quite frankly, we don't think work.
  When we talk about value judgments and stuff like that, if you think 
the record on the southern border has been a successful thing for 
immigration, we respectfully disagree.
  We have heard from the professionals in the field, our Border Patrol 
agents and CBP officers who are being crushed dealing with, dare I say, 
an unprecedented flow of migrants day after day. This bill supports 
them through real policy change, not just words.
  Our colleagues across the aisle are content to treat the border 
crisis as an issue that can be managed. They throw huge sums of money 
at a problem the failed policies created. It does not work.
  What do I mean? You have the flow across the border, and now it has 
become a problem everywhere else in the country.
  What do school districts do? What do housing people do? What do law 
enforcement people do? It is fair to focus on the border, but the 
impacts are not just this is just kind of that deal there.
  Law enforcement professionals don't want to manage the border; they 
want to enforce the law. They want to enforce not the law that we are 
talking about recently, but they want to enforce the law that has been 
on the books for a long time.
  Dare I say there are some executive orders that may put the 
interpretation of the law at issue. They want to enforce the law for us 
to change the course, to end the chaos. If you think what is happening 
there is a nice, calm thing and it just needs more resources for 
management, I respectfully disagree.
  My colleagues want to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in 
grants to nonprofit organizations for transportation and other services 
that only further incentivizes the immigration rush we have got. If you 
can get across, we will take it from there, and what ``we will take 
it'' means is giving additional services for transportation.
  Do nonprofits reduce encounters or deter anyone from crossing 
illegally? No, they don't. This enables all that, so we cut funding for 
that program.
  You have heard about border management and shelter services. That is 
a couple of billion dollars. The numbers are right. Quite frankly, that 
is one of the funding sources that has been used to transport people 
all around the country, sometimes on airlines, sometimes in the middle 
of the night, but nonetheless to manage--we have got all these people 
here, and we have got to get them spread out as soon as possible.
  Madam Chair, it is time for plain talk. We zero that account out. Oh, 
my God, you did what? Yep. Do any of us think the Senate will leave it 
at zero? No.
  While we are talking about our colleagues in the Senate, this bill 
last year got zip in the way of--how about this policy or that policy. 
None. It is a big win for you, I guess, if you are on that side of the 
fence.
  Guess what? We are going to create some things where if you want some

[[Page H4171]]

money back for that and you want it restricted so it isn't a slush fund 
to implement policies that are not on the books in terms of statute or 
regulation, then guess what, that is zeroed out, as are all of the 
funds for nonprofits. The criticism there is spot on. It is all seen as 
a way to facilitate huge amounts of people coming over and processing 
them away from the border as soon as possible.

  It is not border cities. They are hardened or whatever; not that they 
don't need help. It is cities and counties across the country. The 
answer, according to 3 years' worth of record-high illegal immigration, 
in our opinion, is a resounding no, so we cut that funding.
  Last year, CBP recorded 3.2 million encounters. To put it in 
perspective, that is about 11 times the population of the largest city 
in my district. That is just at the southern border in 1 year.
  Last year, we funded $1.7 billion for tents to process an 
unprecedented number of aliens that continue to cross between ports of 
entry under this administration's open-border policies.
  Has spending billions of taxpayer dollars for processing tents along 
the southern border just to release aliens into the interior at a rapid 
pace reduced illegal immigration at all? Quite the contrary. In this 
bill, we eliminated that funding.
  In the middle of an election year, the administration just announced 
a proclamation to shut down the border if encounters between the ports 
of entry reach a certain level. We have been beyond those levels for a 
while now. That is quite an announcement.
  I heard somebody earlier speak about this is about messaging. I guess 
in some areas, it is absolutely about messaging.

                              {time}  1145

  Oh, by the way, all of those previous administration policies, such 
as shelter in place and stuff like that kind of kept things to a 
cooperative between two countries and at some sort of manageable level. 
No, those are all out the door at the beginning of this. That is why 
this bill invests in tried-and-true methods of securing the border that 
men and women in the field are asking for: more agents, more detention 
beds, more technology, and--I know this is bad--physical barriers.
  This bill makes the following border security investment: sustains 
funding for 22,000 Border Patrol agents, $300 million for border 
security technology, which is a record in that area if somebody thinks 
anybody is turning their back on anybody. That includes autonomous 
surveillance towers, mobile surveillance platforms, counter-tunnel 
equipment, and a significant investment in counter-drone capability. 
There is $600 million for a border wall because we know physical 
barriers work. Finally, there is $305 million in nonintrusive 
inspection equipment and upgrades so that we can detect fentanyl at our 
ports of entry. That is right. This bill does that.
  In addition to our efforts at the border, the bill includes funding 
for critical immigration enforcement efforts such as $3.1 billion to 
support 50,000 detention beds for ICE. This is 8,500 more beds than 
were funded last year and 16,000 more than this administration asked 
for.
  Yes, we have a disagreement on how many is enough.
  There is $822 million for flights and ground transportation for ICE 
to execute its statutory authority to remove more than 1.4 million 
migrants who are still in this country despite having final orders of 
removal. In case anybody didn't catch that, that is to transport people 
south, not north, east, and west.
  There is $60 million to hire more than 250 new law enforcement 
officers to investigate transnational criminal activity and keep our 
communities safe from those who seek to do us harm. Translation: 
fentanyl. Those folks are here to work that issue which, last I heard, 
was evasive, pervasive, and needs more help.
  The bill also makes critical investments outside the southern border. 
For TSA we provide $178 million to speed up computed tomography 
screening device efforts at the Nation's airports. This is new 
technology that is available that has been rolled out at some airports, 
but, frankly, the administration had it on a 15-year funding cycle. By 
the time all of our airports get that, I am sure there will be new and 
better technology that will make this obsolete.
  What does the bill do, Madam Chairman?
  It puts it on a 5-year cycle. It gets that out to the airports and 
makes the flying public safer. We doubled the requested amount to 
pursue those things.
  Then we get to China. As we continue to grow in terms of having to 
meet the challenge of China's military, economic, and political 
influence in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. must have a persistent presence 
in the region.
  This bill expands Coast Guard operations in the Indo-Pacific with 
additional capacity and capability to include $335 million for four 
fast response cutters to increase deployments in the region, $60 
million for service life extension to enable the Coast Guard to deploy 
another medium endurance cutter, and $4.2 million for increased 
operations funds for the Coast Guard to interact and conduct exercises 
with our allies in the Indo-Pacific so that we are ready to go if we 
need to because we practiced with our friends.
  The bill funds the core responsibilities of the department and 
protects the homeland. What it doesn't do is fund the failed policies 
that further contribute to chaos at our southern border.
  Madam Chairman, that is how you really support the hardworking men 
and women of DHS protecting the Nation.
  We need to change course on the border. We sincerely believe that. 
Interestingly enough, so do many mayors of large cities across the 
Nation regardless of their political affiliation.
  We need to change that course not through gimmicks but through real 
policy and funding changes. This bill is a step in the right direction.
  Madam Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COLE. Madam Chair, today's measure covers the Department of 
Homeland Security and is critical to defending the homeland and 
protecting the American people.
  From the crisis at the southern border, to the scourge of fentanyl, 
to the threat of terrorism, the United States continues to face an 
evolving array of threats. It is more important than ever that we place 
the Department of Homeland Security in the best position to fulfill its 
mission.
  Today's bill accomplishes that goal.
  It invests the resources we need to secure the nation. In fact, this 
bill provides $64.8 billion to meet our needs, which is an increase of 
$2.9 billion over last year, and a full $4.25 billion over the 
President's budget request.
  This increase is sadly necessary. President Biden's policies at the 
southern border have created a humanitarian and security crisis, 
overwhelming not only the border itself, but also communities across 
the country. Each month hundreds of thousands of migrants cross the 
border illegally, many of whom are allowed to remain in the country 
without consequence. The decision to allow an open southern border has 
meant that countless wrongdoers--human traffickers, narcotraffickers, 
and potential terrorists--can enter our country freely.
  Enough is enough. Today's bill will take steps to end this state of 
affairs. It will provide $600 million for construction of the border 
wall. It will force President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas to adhere to 
the law. It invests resources to halt fentanyl from entering our 
country and our communities. It makes critical investments in the 
Border Patrol and the Coast Guard, and it forces the Department of 
Homeland Security to focus on its core mission: to keep the American 
people safe.
  I applaud Chairman Amodei for his good work in putting this measure 
together, and I urge all of my colleagues to support its passage.
  The CHAIR. All time for general debate has expired.
  Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment 
under the 5-minute rule.
  An amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of 
Rules Committee Print 118-38, modified by the amendment specified in 
section 17 of House Resolution 1316, shall be considered as adopted and 
the bill, as amended, shall be considered as an original bill for the 
purpose of further amendment under the 5-minute rule and shall be 
considered as read.
  The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:

                               H.R. 8752

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
     following sums

[[Page H4172]]

     are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not 
     otherwise appropriated, for the Department of Homeland 
     Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and 
     for other purposes, namely:

                                TITLE I

   DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT, INTELLIGENCE, SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, AND 
                               OVERSIGHT

            Office of the Secretary and Executive Management

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary and 
     for executive management for operations and support, 
     $281,358,000, of which $22,151,000 shall remain available 
     until September 30, 2026:  Provided, That $5,000,000 shall be 
     withheld from obligation until the Secretary submits, to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate, responses to all questions for the record for 
     each hearing on the fiscal year 2026 budget submission for 
     the Department of Homeland Security held by such Committees 
     prior to July 1:  Provided further, That not to exceed 
     $30,000 shall be for official reception and representation 
     expenses.

                         Management Directorate

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of the Management Directorate for 
     operations and support, $1,637,290,000:  Provided, That not 
     to exceed $2,000 shall be for official reception and 
     representation expenses.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For necessary expenses of the Management Directorate for 
     procurement, construction, and improvements, $54,337,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2027.

                       federal protective service

       The revenues and collections of security fees credited to 
     this account shall be available until expended for necessary 
     expenses related to the protection of federally owned and 
     leased buildings and for the operations of the Federal 
     Protective Service.

           Intelligence, Analysis, and Situational Awareness

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Intelligence and 
     Analysis and the Office of Homeland Security Situational 
     Awareness for operations and support, $345,360,000, of which 
     $105,701,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2026: 
      Provided, That not to exceed $2,000,000 is available for 
     facility needs associated with secure space at fusion 
     centers, including improvements to buildings: Provided 
     further, That not to exceed $3,825 shall be for official 
     reception and representation expenses.

                      Office of Inspector General

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General 
     for operations and support, $225,294,000:  Provided, That not 
     to exceed $300,000 may be used for certain confidential 
     operational expenses, including the payment of informants, to 
     be expended at the direction of the Inspector General.

                       Administrative Provisions

       Sec. 101. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     submit a report not later than October 15, 2025, to the 
     Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security 
     listing all grants and contracts awarded by any means other 
     than full and open competition during fiscal years 2024 or 
     2025.
       (b) The Inspector General shall review the report required 
     by subsection (a) to assess departmental compliance with 
     applicable laws and regulations and report the results of 
     that review to the Committees on Appropriations of the House 
     of Representatives and the Senate not later than February 15, 
     2026.
       Sec. 102.  Not later than 30 days after the last day of 
     each month, the Chief Financial Officer of the Department of 
     Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     a monthly budget and staffing report that includes total 
     obligations of the Department for that month and for the 
     fiscal year at the appropriation and program, project, and 
     activity levels, by the source year of the appropriation.
       Sec. 103. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall notify 
     the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate of any proposed transfers of 
     funds available under section 9705(g)(4)(B) of title 31, 
     United States Code, from the Department of the Treasury 
     Forfeiture Fund to any agency within the Department of 
     Homeland Security.
       (b) None of the funds identified for such a transfer may be 
     obligated until the Committees on Appropriations of the House 
     of Representatives and the Senate are notified of the 
     proposed transfer.
       Sec. 104.  All official costs associated with the use of 
     Government aircraft by Department of Homeland Security 
     personnel to support official travel of the Secretary and the 
     Deputy Secretary shall be paid from amounts made available 
     for the Office of the Secretary.
       Sec. 105. (a) The Under Secretary for Management shall 
     brief the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate not later than 45 days after 
     the end of each fiscal quarter on all Level 1 and Level 2 
     acquisition programs on the Master Acquisition Oversight list 
     between Acquisition Decision Event and Full Operational 
     Capability, including programs that have been removed from 
     such list during the preceding quarter.
       (b) For each such program, the briefing described in 
     subsection (a) shall include--
       (1) a description of the purpose of the program, including 
     the capabilities being acquired and the component(s) 
     sponsoring the acquisition;
       (2) the total number of units, as appropriate, to be 
     acquired annually until procurement is complete under the 
     current acquisition program baseline;
       (3) the Acquisition Review Board status, including--
       (A) the current acquisition phase by increment, as 
     applicable;
       (B) the date of the most recent review; and
       (C) whether the program has been paused or is in breach 
     status;
       (4) a comparison between the initial Department-approved 
     acquisition program baseline cost, schedule, and performance 
     thresholds and objectives and the program's current such 
     thresholds and objectives, if applicable;
       (5) the lifecycle cost estimate, adjusted for comparison to 
     the Future Years Homeland Security Program, including--
       (A) the confidence level for the estimate;
       (B) the fiscal years included in the estimate;
       (C) a breakout of the estimate for the prior five years, 
     the current year, and the budget year;
       (D) a breakout of the estimate by appropriation account or 
     other funding source; and
       (E) a description of and rationale for any changes to the 
     estimate as compared to the previously approved baseline, as 
     applicable, and during the prior fiscal year;
       (6) a summary of the findings of any independent 
     verification and validation of the items to be acquired or an 
     explanation for why no such verification and validation has 
     been performed;
       (7) a table displaying the obligation of all program funds 
     by prior fiscal year, the estimated obligation of funds for 
     the current fiscal year, and an estimate for the planned 
     carryover of funds into the subsequent fiscal year;
       (8) a listing of prime contractors and major 
     subcontractors; and
       (9) narrative descriptions of risks to cost, schedule, or 
     performance that could result in a program breach if not 
     successfully mitigated.
       (c) The Under Secretary for Management shall submit each 
     approved Acquisition Decision Memorandum for programs 
     described in this section to the Committees on Appropriations 
     of the House of Representatives and the Senate not later than 
     five business days after the date of approval of such 
     memorandum by the Under Secretary for Management or the 
     designee of the Under Secretary for Management.
       Sec. 106. (a) None of the funds made available to the 
     Department of Homeland Security in this Act or prior 
     appropriations Acts may be obligated for any new pilot or 
     demonstration unless the component or office carrying out 
     such pilot or demonstration has documented the information 
     described in subsection (c).
       (b) Prior to the obligation of any such funds made 
     available for ``Operations and Support'' for a new pilot or 
     demonstration, the Under Secretary for Management shall 
     provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives and the Senate on the information 
     described in subsection (c).
       (c) The information required under subsections (a) and (b) 
     for a pilot or demonstration shall include the following--
       (1) documented objectives that are well-defined and 
     measurable;
       (2) an assessment methodology that details--
       (A) the type and source of assessment data;
       (B) the methods for, and frequency of, collecting such 
     data; and
       (C) how such data will be analyzed; and
       (3) an implementation plan, including milestones, cost 
     estimates, and implementation schedules, including a 
     projected end date.
       (d) Not later than 90 days after the date of completion of 
     a pilot or demonstration described in subsection (e), the 
     Under Secretary for Management shall provide a report to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate detailing lessons learned, actual costs, any 
     planned expansion or continuation of the pilot or 
     demonstration, and any planned transition of such pilot or 
     demonstration into an enduring program or operation.
       (e) For the purposes of this section, a pilot or 
     demonstration program is a study, demonstration, experimental 
     program, or trial that--
       (1) is a small-scale, short-term experiment conducted in 
     order to evaluate feasibility, duration, costs, or adverse 
     events, and improve upon the design of an effort prior to 
     implementation of a larger scale effort; and
       (2) uses more than 10 full-time equivalents or obligates, 
     or proposes to obligate, $5,000,000 or more, but does not 
     include congressionally directed programs or enhancements and 
     does not include programs that were in operation as of the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.
       (f) For the purposes of this section, a pilot or 
     demonstration does not include any testing, evaluation, or 
     initial deployment phase executed under a procurement 
     contract for the acquisition of information technology 
     services or systems, or any pilot or demonstration carried 
     out by a non-Federal recipient under any financial assistance 
     agreement funded by the Department.

                                TITLE II

               SECURITY, ENFORCEMENT, AND INVESTIGATIONS

                   U.S. Customs and Border Protection

                         operations and support

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For necessary expenses of U.S. Customs and Border 
     Protection for operations and support, including the 
     transportation of unaccompanied alien minors; the provision 
     of air and marine support to Federal, State, local, and 
     international agencies in the enforcement or administration 
     of laws enforced by the Department of

[[Page H4173]]

     Homeland Security; at the discretion of the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security, the provision of such support to Federal, 
     State, and local agencies in other law enforcement and 
     emergency humanitarian efforts; the purchase and lease of up 
     to 7,500 (6,500 for replacement only) police-type vehicles; 
     the purchase, maintenance, or operation of marine vessels, 
     aircraft, and unmanned aerial systems; and contracting with 
     individuals for personal services abroad; $16,566,247,000; of 
     which $3,274,000 shall be derived from the Harbor Maintenance 
     Trust Fund for administrative expenses related to the 
     collection of the Harbor Maintenance Fee pursuant to section 
     9505(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 
     9505(c)(3)) and notwithstanding section 1511(e)(1) of the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 551(e)(1)); of which 
     $550,000,000 shall be available until September 30, 2026; and 
     of which such sums as become available in the Customs User 
     Fee Account, except sums subject to section 13031(f)(3) of 
     the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 
     (19 U.S.C. 58c(f)(3)), shall be derived from that account:  
     Provided, That not to exceed $34,425 shall be for official 
     reception and representation expenses:  Provided further, 
     That not to exceed $150,000 shall be available for payment 
     for rental space in connection with preclearance operations:  
     Provided further, That not to exceed $2,000,000 shall be for 
     awards of compensation to informants, to be accounted for 
     solely under the certificate of the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security:  Provided further, That not to exceed $2,500,000 
     may be transferred to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the 
     maintenance and repair of roads on Native American 
     reservations used by the U.S. Border Patrol.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For necessary expenses of U.S. Customs and Border 
     Protection for procurement, construction, and improvements, 
     including procurement of marine vessels, aircraft, and 
     unmanned aerial systems, $1,390,338,000, of which 
     $766,684,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2027, 
     and of which $623,654,000 shall remain available until 
     September 30, 2029.

                U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement for operations and support, including the 
     purchase and lease of up to 3,790 (2,350 for replacement 
     only) police-type vehicles; overseas vetted units; and 
     maintenance, minor construction, and minor leasehold 
     improvements at owned and leased facilities; $10,497,243,000; 
     of which not less than $6,000,000 shall remain available 
     until expended for efforts to enforce laws against forced 
     child labor; of which $46,696,000 shall remain available 
     until September 30, 2026; of which not less than $2,000,000 
     is for paid apprenticeships for participants in the Human 
     Exploitation Rescue Operative Child-Rescue Corps; of which 
     not less than $15,000,000 shall be available for 
     investigation of intellectual property rights violations, 
     including operation of the National Intellectual Property 
     Rights Coordination Center; and of which not less than 
     $5,900,389,000 shall be for enforcement, detention, and 
     removal operations, including transportation of unaccompanied 
     alien minors, of which not less than $3,081,725,000 shall 
     remain available until September 30, 2026:  Provided, That 
     not to exceed $11,475 shall be for official reception and 
     representation expenses:  Provided further, That not to 
     exceed $10,000,000 shall be available until expended for 
     conducting special operations under section 3131 of the 
     Customs Enforcement Act of 1986 (19 U.S.C. 2081):  Provided 
     further, That not to exceed $2,000,000 shall be for awards of 
     compensation to informants, to be accounted for solely under 
     the certificate of the Secretary of Homeland Security:  
     Provided further, That not to exceed $11,216,000 shall be 
     available to fund or reimburse other Federal agencies for the 
     costs associated with the care, maintenance, and repatriation 
     of smuggled aliens unlawfully present in the United States:  
     Provided further, That not less than $2,000,000 shall be for 
     entering into new agreements for the delegation of law 
     enforcement authority provided by section 287(g) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act:  Provided further,  That 
     funding made available under this heading shall maintain a 
     level of not less than 50,000 detention beds.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For necessary expenses of U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement for procurement, construction, and improvements, 
     $19,548,000, of which $6,548,000 shall remain available until 
     September 30, 2027, and of which $13,000,000 shall remain 
     available until September 30, 2029.

                 Transportation Security Administration

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of the Transportation Security 
     Administration for operations and support, $10,817,225,000, 
     of which $300,000,000 shall remain available until September 
     30, 2026:  Provided, That not to exceed $7,650 shall be for 
     official reception and representation expenses:  Provided 
     further, That security service fees authorized under section 
     44940 of title 49, United States Code, shall be credited to 
     this appropriation as offsetting collections and shall be 
     available only for aviation security:  Provided further, That 
     the sum appropriated under this heading from the general fund 
     shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis as such 
     offsetting collections are received during fiscal year 2025 
     so as to result in a final fiscal year appropriation from the 
     general fund estimated at not more than $7,957,225,000.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For necessary expenses of the Transportation Security 
     Administration for procurement, construction, and 
     improvements, $198,428,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2027.

                        research and development

       For necessary expenses of the Transportation Security 
     Administration for research and development, $17,990,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2026.

                              Coast Guard

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of the Coast Guard for operations 
     and support including the Coast Guard Reserve; purchase or 
     lease of not to exceed 25 passenger motor vehicles, which 
     shall be for replacement only; purchase or lease of small 
     boats for contingent and emergent requirements (at a unit 
     cost of not more than $700,000) and repairs and service-life 
     replacements, not to exceed a total of $31,000,000; purchase, 
     lease, or improvements of boats necessary for overseas 
     deployments and activities; payments pursuant to section 156 
     of Public Law 97-377 (42 U.S.C. 402 note; 96 Stat. 1920); and 
     recreation and welfare; $10,554,261,000, of which 
     $530,000,000 shall be for defense-related activities; of 
     which $24,500,000 shall be derived from the Oil Spill 
     Liability Trust Fund to carry out the purposes of section 
     1012(a)(5) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 
     2712(a)(5)); of which $20,000,000 shall remain available 
     until September 30, 2027; of which $24,359,000 shall remain 
     available until September 30, 2029, for environmental 
     compliance and restoration; and of which $100,000,000 shall 
     remain available until September 30, 2026, which shall only 
     be available for vessel depot level maintenance:  Provided, 
     That not to exceed $23,000 shall be for official reception 
     and representation expenses.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For necessary expenses of the Coast Guard for procurement, 
     construction, and improvements, including aids to navigation, 
     shore facilities (including facilities at Department of 
     Defense installations used by the Coast Guard), and vessels 
     and aircraft, including equipment related thereto, 
     $2,128,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2029; 
     of which $20,000,000 shall be derived from the Oil Spill 
     Liability Trust Fund to carry out the purposes of section 
     1012(a)(5) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 
     2712(a)(5)).

                        research and development

       For necessary expenses of the Coast Guard for research and 
     development; and for maintenance, rehabilitation, lease, and 
     operation of facilities and equipment; $6,763,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2027, of which $500,000 shall 
     be derived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to carry 
     out the purposes of section 1012(a)(5) of the Oil Pollution 
     Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712(a)(5)):  Provided, That there may 
     be credited to and used for the purposes of this 
     appropriation funds received from State and local 
     governments, other public authorities, private sources, and 
     foreign countries for expenses incurred for research, 
     development, testing, and evaluation.

                              retired pay

       For retired pay, including the payment of obligations 
     otherwise chargeable to lapsed appropriations for this 
     purpose, payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family 
     Protection and Survivor Benefits Plans, payment for career 
     status bonuses, payment of continuation pay under section 356 
     of title 37, United States Code, concurrent receipts, combat-
     related special compensation, and payments for medical care 
     of retired personnel and their dependents under chapter 55 of 
     title 10, United States Code, $1,210,840,000, to remain 
     available until expended.

                      United States Secret Service

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of the United States Secret Service 
     for operations and support, including purchase of not to 
     exceed 652 vehicles for police-type use; hire of passenger 
     motor vehicles; purchase of motorcycles made in the United 
     States; hire of aircraft; rental of buildings in the District 
     of Columbia; fencing, lighting, guard booths, and other 
     facilities on private or other property not in Government 
     ownership or control, as may be necessary to perform 
     protective functions; conduct of and participation in 
     firearms matches; presentation of awards; conduct of 
     behavioral research in support of protective intelligence and 
     operations; payment in advance for commercial accommodations 
     as may be necessary to perform protective functions; and 
     payment, without regard to section 5702 of title 5, United 
     States Code, of subsistence expenses of employees who are on 
     protective missions, whether at or away from their duty 
     stations; $3,017,524,000; of which $80,041,000 shall remain 
     available until September 30, 2026, and of which $6,000,000 
     shall be for a grant for activities related to investigations 
     of missing and exploited children; and of which up to 
     $24,000,000 may be for calendar year 2024 premium pay in 
     excess of the annual equivalent of the limitation on the rate 
     of pay contained in section 5547(a) of title 5, United States 
     Code, pursuant to section 2 of the Overtime Pay for 
     Protective Services Act of 2016 (5 U.S.C. 5547 note), as last 
     amended by Public Law 118-38:  Provided, That not to exceed 
     $19,125 shall be for official reception and representation 
     expenses:  Provided further, That not to exceed $100,000 
     shall be to provide technical assistance and equipment to 
     foreign law enforcement organizations in criminal 
     investigations within the jurisdiction of the United States 
     Secret Service.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For necessary expenses of the United States Secret Service 
     for procurement, construction,

[[Page H4174]]

     and improvements, $138,336,000, of which $53,436,000 shall 
     remain available until September 30, 2027, and of which 
     $84,900,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2029.

                        research and development

       For necessary expenses of the United States Secret Service 
     for research and development, $2,250,000, to remain available 
     until September 30, 2026.

                       Administrative Provisions

       Sec. 201.  Section 201 of the Department of Homeland 
     Security Appropriations Act, 2018 (division F of Public Law 
     115-141), related to overtime compensation limitations, shall 
     apply with respect to funds made available in this Act in the 
     same manner as such section applied to funds made available 
     in that Act, except that ``fiscal year 2025'' shall be 
     substituted for ``fiscal year 2018''.
       Sec. 202.  Funding made available under the headings ``U.S. 
     Customs and Border Protection--Operations and Support'' and 
     ``U.S. Customs and Border Protection--Procurement, 
     Construction, and Improvements'' shall be available for 
     customs expenses when necessary to maintain operations and 
     prevent adverse personnel actions in Puerto Rico and the U.S. 
     Virgin Islands, in addition to funding provided by sections 
     740 and 1406i of title 48, United States Code.
       Sec. 203.  As authorized by section 601(b) of the United 
     States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act 
     (Public Law 112-42), fees collected from passengers arriving 
     from Canada, Mexico, or an adjacent island pursuant to 
     section 13031(a)(5) of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget 
     Reconciliation Act of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c(a)(5)) shall be 
     available until expended.
       Sec. 204. (a) For an additional amount for ``U.S. Customs 
     and Border Protection--Operations and Support'', $31,000,000, 
     to remain available until expended, to be reduced by amounts 
     collected and credited to this appropriation in fiscal year 
     2025 from amounts authorized to be collected by section 
     286(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1356(i)), section 10412 of the Farm Security and Rural 
     Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8311), and section 817 of 
     the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 
     (Public Law 114-125), or other such authorizing language.
       (b) To the extent that amounts realized from such 
     collections exceed $31,000,000, those amounts in excess of 
     $31,000,000 shall be credited to this appropriation, to 
     remain available until expended.
       Sec. 205.  None of the funds made available in this Act for 
     U.S. Customs and Border Protection may be used to prevent an 
     individual not in the business of importing a prescription 
     drug (within the meaning of section 801(g) of the Federal 
     Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) from importing a prescription 
     drug from Canada that complies with the Federal Food, Drug, 
     and Cosmetic Act:  Provided, That this section shall apply 
     only to individuals transporting on their person a personal-
     use quantity of the prescription drug, not to exceed a 90-day 
     supply:  Provided further, That the prescription drug may not 
     be--
       (1) a controlled substance, as defined in section 102 of 
     the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802); or
       (2) a biological product, as defined in section 351 of the 
     Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262).
       Sec. 206. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     none of the funds provided in this or any other Act shall be 
     used to approve a waiver of the navigation and vessel-
     inspection laws pursuant to section 501(b) of title 46, 
     United States Code, for the transportation of crude oil 
     distributed from and to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until 
     the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with 
     the Secretaries of the Departments of Energy and 
     Transportation and representatives from the United States 
     flag maritime industry, takes adequate measures to ensure the 
     use of United States flag vessels.
       (b) The Secretary shall notify the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
     the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate within 2 business 
     days of any request for waivers of navigation and vessel-
     inspection laws pursuant to section 501(b) of title 46, 
     United States Code, with respect to such transportation, and 
     the disposition of such requests.
       Sec. 207. (a) Beginning on the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall not--
       (1) establish, collect, or otherwise impose any new border 
     crossing fee on individuals crossing the Southern border or 
     the Northern border at a land port of entry; or
       (2) conduct any study relating to the imposition of a 
     border crossing fee.
       (b) In this section, the term ``border crossing fee'' means 
     a fee that every pedestrian, cyclist, and driver and 
     passenger of a private motor vehicle is required to pay for 
     the privilege of crossing the Southern border or the Northern 
     border at a land port of entry.
       Sec. 208. (a) Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and 
     Border Protection shall submit an expenditure plan for any 
     amounts made available for ``U.S. Customs and Border 
     Protection--Procurement, Construction, and Improvements'' in 
     this Act and prior Acts to the Committees on Appropriations 
     of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
       (b) No such amounts provided in this Act may be obligated 
     prior to the submission of such plan.
       Sec. 209.  Section 211 of the Department of Homeland 
     Security Appropriations Act, 2021 (division F of Public Law 
     116-260), prohibiting the use of funds for the construction 
     of fencing in certain areas, shall apply with respect to 
     funds made available in this Act in the same manner as such 
     section applied to funds made available in that Act.
       Sec. 210. (a) Funds made available in this Act may be used 
     to alter operations within the National Targeting Center of 
     U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
       (b) None of the funds provided by this Act, provided by 
     previous appropriations Acts that remain available for 
     obligation or expenditure in fiscal year 2025, or provided 
     from any accounts in the Treasury of the United States 
     derived by the collection of fees available to the components 
     funded by this Act, may be used to reduce anticipated or 
     planned vetting operations at existing locations unless 
     specifically authorized by a statute enacted after the date 
     of enactment of this Act.
       Sec. 211. (a) Of the total amount made available under 
     ``U.S. Customs and Border Protection--Procurement, 
     Construction, and Improvements'', $1,390,338,000 shall be 
     available only as follows:
       (1) $600,000,000 for the acquisition and deployment of 
     physical barriers;
       (2) $300,000,000 for the acquisition and deployment of 
     border security technologies;
       (3) $305,000,000 for trade and travel assets and 
     infrastructure;
       (4) $23,654,000 for facility construction and improvements;
       (5) $131,419,000 for integrated operations assets and 
     infrastructure; and
       (6) $30,265,000 for mission support and infrastructure.
       (b) None of the funds allocated for pedestrian physical 
     barriers may be made available for any purpose other than the 
     construction of steel bollard pedestrian barrier built at 
     least 18 to 30 feet in effective height and augmented with 
     anti-climb and anti-dig features.
       (c) None of the funds allocated for pedestrian physical 
     barriers may be made available for any purpose other than 
     construction of pedestrian barriers consistent with the 
     description in subsection (b) at locations identified in the 
     Border Security Improvement Plan submitted to Congress on 
     August 1, 2020.
       (d) The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
     may reprioritize the construction of physical barriers 
     outlined in the Border Security Improvement Plan and, with 
     prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives and the Senate, add additional miles 
     of pedestrian physical barriers where no such barriers exist, 
     prioritized by operational requirements developed in 
     coordination with U.S. Border Patrol leadership.
       (e) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall begin to 
     obligate amounts for physical barrier construction no later 
     than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
       (f) For purposes of this section, the term ``effective 
     height'' refers to the height above the level of the adjacent 
     terrain features.
       Sec. 212.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be obligated, expended, or 
     transferred to another Federal agency, board, or commission 
     to be used to dismantle, demolish, remove, or damage existing 
     United States-Mexico physical barriers at any location where 
     such barriers have been constructed as of the date of 
     enactment of this Act unless such barrier is simultaneously 
     being repaired or replaced.
       Sec. 213.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to utilize the 
     U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP One Application, or 
     any successor application, to facilitate the parole of any 
     alien into the United States.
       Sec. 214.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to implement, 
     administer, or otherwise carry out the policies described in 
     the directive issued by the Acting Commissioner of U.S. 
     Customs and Border Protection on January 10, 2023, entitled 
     ``Emergency Driving and Vehicular Pursuits''.
       Sec. 215.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to admit an alien 
     into the United States at a port of entry on an F or M visa 
     if the college, university, or other institution of higher 
     learning that the student will attend is not accredited by a 
     nationally recognized accrediting agency or association 
     recognized by the Secretary of Education pursuant to part H 
     of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1099a et seq.).
       Sec. 216.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to parole into 
     the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, for the 
     purpose of temporary visit for business or pleasure without a 
     visa, an alien who is a national of the People's Republic of 
     China.
       Sec. 217. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
     made available by this Act may be used by U.S. Customs and 
     Border Protection to admit into the United States any 
     aerosol-dispensing unmanned aircraft system produced or 
     manufactured in a foreign adversary country.
       (b) The term ``foreign adversary country'' means a country 
     specified in section 4872(d)(2) of title 10, United States 
     Code.
       Sec. 218.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to reduce 
     participation in or substantively diminish the delegation of 
     law enforcement authority authorized under section 287(g) of 
     the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1357(g)), 
     except as provided in section 219 of this Act.
       Sec. 219.  None of the funds provided under the heading 
     ``U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement--Operations and 
     Support'' may be used to continue a delegation of law 
     enforcement authority authorized under section 287(g) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1357(g)) if the 
     Department of Homeland

[[Page H4175]]

     Security Inspector General determines that the terms of the 
     agreement governing the delegation of authority have been 
     materially violated.
       Sec. 220. (a) None of the funds provided under the heading 
     ``U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement--Operations and 
     Support'' may be used to continue any contract for the 
     provision of detention services if the two most recent 
     overall performance evaluations received by the contracted 
     facility are less than ``adequate'' or the equivalent median 
     score in any subsequent performance evaluation system.
       (b) The performance evaluations referenced in subsection 
     (a) shall be conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility.
       Sec. 221.  Without regard to the limitation as to time and 
     condition of section 503(d) of this Act, the Secretary may 
     reprogram within and transfer funds to ``U.S. Immigration and 
     Customs Enforcement--Operations and Support'' as necessary to 
     ensure the detention of aliens prioritized for removal.
       Sec. 222.  The reports required to be submitted under 
     section 216 of the Department of Homeland Security 
     Appropriations Act, 2021 (division F of Public Law 116-260) 
     shall continue to be submitted semimonthly and each matter 
     required to be included in such reports by such section 216 
     shall apply in the same manner and to the same extent during 
     the period described in such section 216.
       Sec. 223.  The terms and conditions of section 217 of the 
     Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2020 
     (division D of Public Law 116-93) shall apply to this Act.
       Sec. 224.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to implement, 
     administer, or otherwise carry out the activities and 
     policies described in the memorandum issued by the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security on September 30, 2021, entitled 
     ``Guidelines for the Enforcement of Civil Immigration Law'', 
     or described in the memorandum issued by Kerry Doyle, 
     Immigration and Customs Enforcement Principal Legal Advisor 
     on April 3, 2022, entitled ``Guidance to OPLA Attorneys 
     Regarding the Enforcement of Civil Immigration Laws and the 
     Exercise of Prosecutorial Discretion'', or any successor or 
     similar memorandum or policy.
       Sec. 225. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
     made available by this Act may be made available to transport 
     aliens unlawfully present in, paroled into, or inadmissible 
     to the United States into the interior of the United States 
     for purposes other than enforcement of the immigration laws 
     (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration 
     and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)).
       (b) The limitation under subsection (a) shall not apply 
     with respect to amounts made available to transport 
     unaccompanied alien children (as such term is defined in 
     section 462 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     279)).
       Sec. 226. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
     made available by this Act for ``U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement'' may be used to pay for or facilitate an 
     abortion, except where the life of the mother would be 
     endangered if the fetus would be carried to term, or in the 
     case of rape or incest.
       (b) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act for ``U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement'' may be used to require any person to perform, 
     or facilitate in any way the performance of, any abortion.
       Sec. 227.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to administer 
     hormone therapy medication or perform or facilitate any 
     surgery for any person in custody of U.S. Immigration and 
     Customs Enforcement for the purpose of gender-affirming care.
       Sec. 228.  The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     allocate amounts appropriated or otherwise made available 
     under the heading ``U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement--Operations and Support'' by this Act in order 
     to--
       (1) prioritize detention by using such amounts to ensure 
     that the average daily population of detainees is maintained 
     at the full capacity at all detention facilities funded by 
     this Act throughout the fiscal year; and
       (2) ensure that every alien on the non-detained docket is 
     enrolled into the Alternatives to Detention Program with 
     mandatory GPS monitoring throughout the duration of all 
     applicable immigration proceedings (including any appeals) 
     and until removal, if ordered removed.
       Sec. 229.  Not later than 45 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Chief Financial Officer of U.S. 
     Immigration and Customs Enforcement shall submit to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate an obligation plan for amounts made available 
     in this Act for ``U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement'', 
     delineated by level II program, project, and activity.
       Sec. 230.  None of the funds provided under the heading 
     ``U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement--Operations and 
     Support'' may be made available to develop or administer a 
     physical identification card for purposes of alien 
     identification, verification of immigration status, or 
     immigration portal access.
       Sec. 231.  None of the funds provided under the heading 
     ``U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement--Operations and 
     Support'' may be made available to develop, pilot, 
     administer, or otherwise implement standards for management 
     of the non-detained alien population or for the Alternatives 
     to Detention Program beyond those incorporated in the 
     Alternatives to Detention Handbook, issued on August 16, 
     2017.
       Sec. 232.  None of the funds provided under the heading 
     ``U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement--Operations and 
     Support'' may be made available to implement, administer, or 
     otherwise carry out the activities, policies, and guidelines 
     described in the memorandum issued by the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security on October 27, 2021, entitled ``Guidelines 
     for Enforcement Actions in or Near Protected Areas''.
       Sec. 233.  No law of any State or political subdivision 
     thereof pertaining to a minimum rate of compensation or any 
     other condition of employment shall apply in the case of any 
     person held in Federal custody pursuant to the immigration 
     laws (as such term is defined in section 101 of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.1101)).
       Sec. 234. (a) Members of the United States House of 
     Representatives and the United States Senate, including the 
     leadership; the heads of Federal agencies and commissions, 
     including the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Under Secretaries, 
     and Assistant Secretaries of the Department of Homeland 
     Security; the United States Attorney General, Deputy Attorney 
     General, Assistant Attorneys General, and the United States 
     Attorneys; and senior members of the Executive Office of the 
     President, including the Director of the Office of Management 
     and Budget, shall not be exempt from Federal passenger and 
     baggage screening.
       (b) None of the funds made available in this or any other 
     Act, including prior Acts, or provided from any accounts in 
     the Treasury of the United States derived by the collection 
     of fees available to the components funded by this Act may be 
     used to carry out legislation altering the applicability of 
     the screening requirements outlined in subsection (a).
       Sec. 235.  Notwithstanding section 44923 of title 49, 
     United States Code, for fiscal year 2025, any funds in the 
     Aviation Security Capital Fund established by section 
     44923(h) of title 49, United States Code, may be used for the 
     procurement and installation of explosives detection systems 
     or for the issuance of other transaction agreements for the 
     purpose of funding projects described in section 44923(a) of 
     such title.
       Sec. 236.  Not later than 45 days after the submission of 
     the President's budget proposal, the Administrator of the 
     Transportation Security Administration shall submit to the 
     Committees on Appropriations and Homeland Security of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations 
     and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
     single report that fulfills the following requirements:
       (1) a Capital Investment Plan, both constrained and 
     unconstrained, that includes a plan for continuous and 
     sustained capital investment in new, and the replacement of 
     aged, transportation security equipment;
       (2) the 5-year technology investment plan as required by 
     section 1611 of title XVI of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002, as amended by section 3 of the Transportation Security 
     Acquisition Reform Act (Public Law 113-245); and
       (3) the Advanced Integrated Passenger Screening 
     Technologies report as required by the Senate Report 
     accompanying the Department of Homeland Security 
     Appropriations Act, 2019 (Senate Report 115-283).
       Sec. 237. (a) None of the funds made available by this Act 
     under the heading ``Coast Guard--Operations and Support'' 
     shall be for expenses incurred for recreational vessels under 
     section 12114 of title 46, United States Code, except to the 
     extent fees are collected from owners of yachts and credited 
     to the appropriation made available by this Act under the 
     heading ``Coast Guard--Operations and Support''.
       (b) To the extent such fees are insufficient to pay 
     expenses of recreational vessel documentation under such 
     section 12114, and there is a backlog of recreational vessel 
     applications, personnel performing non-recreational vessel 
     documentation functions under subchapter II of chapter 121 of 
     title 46, United States Code, may perform documentation under 
     section 12114.
       Sec. 238.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committees 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate a future-years capital investment plan as described in 
     the second proviso under the heading ``Coast Guard--
     Acquisition, Construction, and Improvements'' in the 
     Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015 
     (Public Law 114-4), which shall be subject to the 
     requirements in the third and fourth provisos under such 
     heading.
       Sec. 239.  None of the funds in this Act shall be used to 
     reduce the Coast Guard's legacy Operations Systems Center 
     mission or its government-employed or contract staff levels.
       Sec. 240.  None of the funds appropriated by this Act may 
     be used to conduct, or to implement the results of, a 
     competition under Office of Management and Budget Circular A-
     76 for activities performed with respect to the Coast Guard 
     National Vessel Documentation Center.
       Sec. 241.  Funds made available in this Act may be used to 
     alter operations within the Civil Engineering Program of the 
     Coast Guard nationwide, including civil engineering units, 
     facilities design and construction centers, maintenance and 
     logistics commands, and the Coast Guard Academy, except that 
     none of the funds provided in this Act may be used to reduce 
     operations within any civil engineering unit unless 
     specifically authorized by a statute enacted after the date 
     of enactment of this Act.
       Sec. 242.  Amounts deposited into the Coast Guard Housing 
     Fund in fiscal year 2025 shall be available until expended to 
     carry out the purposes of section 2946 of title 14, United 
     States Code, and shall be in addition to funds otherwise 
     available for such purposes.
       Sec. 243.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to implement, 
     administer, or enforce a Final Rule on ``Shipping Safety 
     Fairways Along the Atlantic Coast'' (89 Fed. Reg. 3587) until 
     the Coast Guard submits a report to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     on the effect of offshore wind turbines on marine navigation 
     radar, especially with regard to search and rescue 
     interference.

[[Page H4176]]

       Sec. 244.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to implement, 
     administer, or enforce a Final Rule on ``Amendments to the 
     North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule'' (87 
     Fed. Reg. 46920) or any restrictions on vessel speed for the 
     Rice's whale that were not in place prior to January 20, 
     2021.
       Sec. 245.  The United States Secret Service is authorized 
     to obligate funds in anticipation of reimbursements from 
     executive agencies, as defined in section 105 of title 5, 
     United States Code, for personnel receiving training 
     sponsored by the James J. Rowley Training Center, except that 
     total obligations at the end of the fiscal year shall not 
     exceed total budgetary resources available under the heading 
     ``United States Secret Service--Operations and Support'' at 
     the end of the fiscal year.
       Sec. 246. (a) None of the funds made available to the 
     United States Secret Service by this Act or by previous 
     appropriations Acts may be made available for the protection 
     of the head of a Federal agency other than the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security.
       (b) The Director of the United States Secret Service may 
     enter into agreements to provide such protection on a fully 
     reimbursable basis.
       Sec. 247.  For purposes of section 503(a)(3) of this Act, 
     up to $15,000,000 may be reprogrammed within ``United States 
     Secret Service--Operations and Support''.
       Sec. 248.  Funding made available in this Act for ``United 
     States Secret Service--Operations and Support'' is available 
     for travel of United States Secret Service employees on 
     protective missions without regard to the limitations on such 
     expenditures in this or any other Act if the Director of the 
     United States Secret Service or a designee notifies the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate 10 or more days in advance, or as early as 
     practicable, prior to such expenditures.
       Sec. 249.  None of the funds provided under the heading 
     ``U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement--Operations and 
     Support'' may be made available to terminate or substantively 
     reduce the terms or conditions of a contract for the 
     provision of detention services with any facility that was 
     previously or is currently designated as a Family Residential 
     Center.
       Sec. 250. (a) The Secretary of the department in which the 
     Coast Guard is operating shall ensure that, during the fiscal 
     year funded by this Act, the imposition or collection of 
     cost-sharing for certain services is prohibited as follows--
       (1) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of 
     section 1074g(a)(6) of title 10, United States Code, cost-
     sharing may not be imposed or collected with respect to any 
     eligible covered beneficiary for any prescription 
     contraceptive on the uniform formulary provided through a 
     retail pharmacy described in section 1074g(a)(2)(E)(ii) of 
     such title or through the national mail-order pharmacy 
     program of the TRICARE Program.
       (2) Notwithstanding any provision under section 1075 of 
     title 10, United States Code, cost-sharing may not be imposed 
     or collected for a covered service that is provided by a 
     network provider under the TRICARE program to an eligible 
     covered beneficiary under such section.
       (3) Notwithstanding subsections (a), (b), and (c) of 
     section 1075a of title 10, United States Code, cost-sharing 
     may not be imposed or collected for a covered service that is 
     provided under TRICARE Prime to an eligible covered 
     beneficiary under such section.
       (b) In this section--
       (1) The term ``covered service'' means any method of 
     contraception approved, granted, or cleared by the Food and 
     Drug Administration, any contraceptive care (including with 
     respect to insertion, removal, and follow up), any 
     sterilization procedure, or any patient education or 
     counseling service provided in connection with any such 
     method, care, or procedure.
       (2) The term ``eligible covered beneficiary'' means an 
     eligible covered beneficiary (as such term is used in section 
     1074g of title 10, United States Code) on the basis of 
     being--
       (A) a member of the Coast Guard; or
       (B) a dependent of such a member.
       (3) The terms ``TRICARE Program'' and ``TRICARE Prime'' 
     have the meaning given such terms in section 1072 of title 
     10, United States Code.
       (c) This section shall become effective 30 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
       Sec. 251. (a) Contraceptive supplies of up to 365 days 
     shall be covered for any eligible covered beneficiary to 
     obtain, including in a single fill or refill, at the option 
     of such beneficiary, the total days of supply (not to exceed 
     a 365-day supply) for a contraceptive on the uniform 
     formulary provided through a military treatment facility 
     pharmacy, retail pharmacy described in section 
     1074g(a)(2)(E)(ii) of such title, or through the national 
     mail-order pharmacy program of the TRICARE Program.
       (b) Beginning not later than 90 days after the 
     implementation of coverage under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
     operating shall conduct such outreach activities as are 
     necessary to inform health care providers and individuals who 
     are enrolled in the TRICARE program of such coverage and the 
     requirements to receive such coverage.
       (c) In this section--
       (1) The term ``covered Armed Force'' means the Coast Guard.
       (2) The term ``eligible covered beneficiary'' means an 
     eligible covered beneficiary as such term is used in section 
     1074g of title 10, United States Code who is--
       (A) a member of a covered Armed Force serving on active 
     duty; or
       (B) a dependent of a member described in subparagraph (A).
       (3) The terms ``TRICARE Program'' and ``TRICARE Prime'' 
     have the meaning given such terms in section 1072 of title 
     10, United States Code.
       (d) This section shall become effective 180 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.

                               TITLE III

            PROTECTION, PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, AND RECOVERY

            Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of the Cybersecurity and 
     Infrastructure Security Agency for operations and support, 
     $2,437,285,000, of which $23,698,000 shall remain available 
     until September 30, 2026:  Provided, That not to exceed 
     $3,825 shall be for official reception and representation 
     expenses.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For necessary expenses of the Cybersecurity and 
     Infrastructure Security Agency for procurement, construction, 
     and improvements, $493,572,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2027.

                  Federal Emergency Management Agency

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency for operations and support, $1,551,093,000:  Provided, 
     That not to exceed $2,250 shall be for official reception and 
     representation expenses.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For necessary expenses of the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency for procurement, construction, and improvements, 
     $94,827,000, of which $38,590,000 shall remain available 
     until September 30, 2027, and of which $56,237,000 shall 
     remain available until September 30, 2029.

                           federal assistance

       For activities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
     for Federal assistance through grants, contracts, cooperative 
     agreements, and other activities, $3,758,992,810, which shall 
     be allocated as follows:
       (1) $520,000,000 for the State Homeland Security Grant 
     Program under section 2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 605), of which $90,000,000 shall be for 
     Operation Stonegarden and $15,000,000 shall be for Tribal 
     Homeland Security Grants under section 2005 of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 606):  Provided, That 
     notwithstanding subsection (c)(4) of such section 2004, for 
     fiscal year 2025, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall make 
     available to local and tribal governments amounts provided to 
     the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico under this paragraph in 
     accordance with subsection (c)(1) of such section 2004.
       (2) $615,000,000 for the Urban Area Security Initiative 
     under section 2003 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
     U.S.C. 604).
       (3) $305,000,000 for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program 
     under section 2009 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
     U.S.C. 609a), of which $152,500,000 is for eligible 
     recipients located in high-risk urban areas that receive 
     funding under section 2003 of such Act and $152,500,000 is 
     for eligible recipients that are located outside such areas:  
     Provided, That eligible recipients are those described in 
     section 2009(b) of such Act (6 U.S.C. 609a(b)) or are an 
     otherwise eligible recipient at risk of a terrorist or other 
     extremist attack.
       (4) $105,000,000 for Public Transportation Security 
     Assistance, Railroad Security Assistance, and Over-the-Road 
     Bus Security Assistance under sections 1406, 1513, and 1532 
     of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission 
     Act of 2007 (6 U.S.C. 1135, 1163, and 1182), of which 
     $10,000,000 shall be for Amtrak security and $2,000,000 shall 
     be for Over-the-Road Bus Security:  Provided, That such 
     public transportation security assistance shall be provided 
     directly to public transportation agencies.
       (5) $100,000,000 for Port Security Grants in accordance 
     with section 70107 of title 46, United States Code.
       (6) $720,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 
     2026, of which $360,000,000 shall be for Assistance to 
     Firefighter Grants and $360,000,000 shall be for Staffing for 
     Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants under sections 33 
     and 34 respectively of the Federal Fire Prevention and 
     Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229 and 2229a).
       (7) $355,000,000 for emergency management performance 
     grants under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 
     U.S.C. 4001 et seq.), the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
     and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121), the Earthquake 
     Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7701), section 762 
     of title 6, United States Code, and Reorganization Plan No. 3 
     of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).
       (8) $312,750,000 for necessary expenses for Flood Hazard 
     Mapping and Risk Analysis, in addition to and to supplement 
     any other sums appropriated under the National Flood 
     Insurance Fund, and such additional sums as may be provided 
     by States or other political subdivisions for cost-shared 
     mapping activities under section 1360(f)(2) of the National 
     Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4101(f)(2)), to remain 
     available until expended.
       (9) $12,000,000 for Regional Catastrophic Preparedness 
     Grants.
       (10) $130,000,000 for the emergency food and shelter 
     program under title III of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11331), to remain available until 
     September 30, 2026:  Provided, That not to exceed 3.5 percent 
     shall be for total administrative costs.
       (11) $40,000,000 for the Next Generation Warning System.
       (12) $221,343,810 for Community Project Funding grants, 
     which shall be for the purposes, and the amounts, specified 
     in the table entitled ``Homeland Security--Community Project 
     Funding'' in the report accompanying this Act, of which--

[[Page H4177]]

       (A) $81,771,896, in addition to amounts otherwise made 
     available for such purpose, is for emergency operations 
     center grants under section 614 of the Robert T. Stafford 
     Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
     5196c); and
       (B) $139,571,914, in addition to amounts otherwise made 
     available for such purpose, is for pre-disaster mitigation 
     grants under section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
     Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133(e), 
     notwithstanding subsections (f), (g), and (l) of that section 
     (42 U.S.C. 5133(f), (g), (l)).
       (13) $322,899,000 to sustain current operations for 
     training, exercises, technical assistance, and other 
     programs.

                          disaster relief fund

       For necessary expenses in carrying out the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), $22,741,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended:  Provided, That such amount shall be for 
     major disasters declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford 
     Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 
     et seq.) and is designated by the Congress as being for 
     disaster relief pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(D) of the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

                     national flood insurance fund

       For activities under the National Flood Insurance Act of 
     1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.), the Flood Disaster Protection 
     Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.), the Biggert-Waters 
     Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-141, 126 
     Stat. 916), and the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability 
     Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-89; 128 Stat. 1020), 
     $239,785,000, to remain available until September 30, 2026, 
     which shall be derived from offsetting amounts collected 
     under section 1308(d) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 
     1968 (42 U.S.C. 4015(d)); of which $14,578,000 shall be 
     available for mission support associated with flood 
     management; and of which $225,207,000 shall be available for 
     flood plain management and flood mapping:  Provided, That any 
     additional fees collected pursuant to section 1308(d) of the 
     National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4015(d)) 
     shall be credited as offsetting collections to this account, 
     to be available for flood plain management and flood mapping: 
      Provided further, That in fiscal year 2025, no funds shall 
     be available from the National Flood Insurance Fund under 
     section 1310 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 
     U.S.C. 4017) in excess of--
       (1) $240,262,000 for operating expenses and salaries and 
     expenses associated with flood insurance operations;
       (2) $1,382,000,000 for commissions and taxes of agents;
       (3) such sums as are necessary for interest on Treasury 
     borrowings; and
       (4) $175,000,000, which shall remain available until 
     expended, for flood mitigation actions and for flood 
     mitigation assistance under section 1366 of the National 
     Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104c), 
     notwithstanding sections 1366(e) and 1310(a)(7) of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 4104c(e), 4017):
       Provided further, That the amounts collected under section 
     102 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 
     4012a) and section 1366(e) of the National Flood Insurance 
     Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104c(e)), shall be deposited in the 
     National Flood Insurance Fund to supplement other amounts 
     specified as available for section 1366 of the National Flood 
     Insurance Act of 1968, notwithstanding section 102(f)(8), 
     section 1366(e) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, 
     and paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 1367(b) of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 4012a(f)(8), 4104c(e), 4104d(b)(1)-(3)):  Provided 
     further, That total administrative costs shall not exceed 4 
     percent of the total appropriation:  Provided further, That 
     up to $6,102,000 is available to carry out section 24 of the 
     Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (42 
     U.S.C. 4033).

                       Administrative Provisions

                     (including transfers of funds)

       Sec. 301.  Funds made available under the heading 
     ``Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency--
     Operations and Support'' may be made available for the 
     necessary expenses of procuring or providing access to 
     cybersecurity threat feeds for branches, agencies, 
     independent agencies, corporations, establishments, and 
     instrumentalities of the Federal Government of the United 
     States, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities, 
     fusion centers as described in section 210A of the Homeland 
     Security Act (6 U.S.C. 124h), and Information Sharing and 
     Analysis Organizations.
       Sec. 302. (a) Notwithstanding section 2008(a)(12) of the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 609(a)(12)) or any 
     other provision of law, not more than 5 percent of the amount 
     of a grant made available in paragraphs (1) through (5) under 
     ``Federal Emergency Management Agency--Federal Assistance'', 
     may be used by the recipient for expenses directly related to 
     administration of the grant.
       (b) The authority provided in subsection (a) shall also 
     apply to a state recipient for the administration of a grant 
     under such paragraph (3).
       Sec. 303.  Applications for grants under the heading 
     ``Federal Emergency Management Agency--Federal Assistance'', 
     for paragraphs (1) through (5), shall be made available to 
     eligible applicants not later than 60 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, eligible applicants shall submit 
     applications not later than 80 days after the grant 
     announcement, and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency shall act within 65 days after the receipt 
     of an application.
       Sec. 304. (a) Under the heading ``Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency--Federal Assistance'', for grants under 
     paragraphs (1) through (5) and (9), the Administrator of the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency shall brief the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate 5 full business days in advance of announcing 
     publicly the intention of making an award.
       (b) If any such public announcement is made before 5 full 
     business days have elapsed following such briefing, 
     $1,000,000 of amounts appropriated by this Act for ``Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency--Operations and Support'' shall 
     be rescinded.
       Sec. 305.  Under the heading ``Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency--Federal Assistance'', for grants under paragraphs (1) 
     and (2), the installation of communications towers is not 
     considered construction of a building or other physical 
     facility.
       Sec. 306.  The reporting requirements in paragraphs (1) and 
     (2) under the heading ``Federal Emergency Management Agency--
     Disaster Relief Fund'' in the Department of Homeland Security 
     Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 114-4), related to 
     reporting on the Disaster Relief Fund, shall be applied in 
     fiscal year 2025 with respect to budget year 2026 and current 
     fiscal year 2025, respectively--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by substituting ``fiscal year 2026'' 
     for ``fiscal year 2016''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2) by inserting ``business'' after 
     ``fifth''.
       Sec. 307.  In making grants under the heading ``Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency--Federal Assistance'', for 
     Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grants, the 
     Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may 
     grant waivers from the requirements in subsections (a)(1)(A), 
     (a)(1)(B), (a)(1)(E), (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(4) of section 
     34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
     U.S.C. 2229a).
       Sec. 308. (a) The aggregate charges assessed during fiscal 
     year 2025, as authorized in title III of the Departments of 
     Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and 
     Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 (42 U.S.C. 
     5196e), shall not be less than 100 percent of the amounts 
     anticipated by the Department of Homeland Security to be 
     necessary for its Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program 
     for the next fiscal year.
       (b) The methodology for assessment and collection of fees 
     shall be fair and equitable and shall reflect costs of 
     providing such services, including administrative costs of 
     collecting such fees.
       (c) Such fees shall be deposited in a Radiological 
     Emergency Preparedness Program account as offsetting 
     collections and will become available for authorized purposes 
     on October 1, 2025, and remain available until expended.
       Sec. 309.  In making grants under the heading ``Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency--Federal Assistance'', for 
     Assistance to Firefighter Grants, the Administrator of the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency may waive subsection (k) 
     of section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act 
     of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229).
       Sec. 310.  Any unobligated balances of funds appropriated 
     in any prior Act for activities funded by the National 
     Predisaster Mitigation Fund under section 203 of the Robert 
     T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5133), as in effect on the day before the date of 
     enactment of section 1234 of division D of Public Law 115-
     254, may be transferred to and merged with funds set aside 
     pursuant to subsection (i)(1) of section 203 of the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5133), as in effect on the date of the enactment of 
     this section.
       Sec. 311.  Any unobligated balances of funds appropriated 
     under the heading ``Federal Emergency Management Agency--
     Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program'' in any prior 
     Act may be transferred to and merged with funds appropriated 
     under the heading ``Federal Emergency Management Agency--
     Federal Assistance'' for necessary expenses for Flood Hazard 
     Mapping and Risk Analysis:  Provided, That funds transferred 
     pursuant to this section shall be in addition to and 
     supplement any other sums appropriated for such purposes 
     under the National Flood Insurance Fund and such additional 
     sums as may be provided by States or other political 
     subdivisions for cost-shared mapping activities under section 
     1360(f)(2) of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 
     U.S.C. 4101(f)(2)), to remain available until expended.

                                TITLE IV

             RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND SERVICES

               U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
     Services for operations and support of the E-Verify Program, 
     $112,431,000:  Provided, That such amounts shall be in 
     addition to any other amounts made available for such 
     purposes, and shall not be construed to require any reduction 
     of any fee described in section 286(m) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(m)).

                Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of the Federal Law Enforcement 
     Training Centers for operations and support, including the 
     purchase of not to exceed 117 vehicles for police-type use 
     and hire of passenger motor vehicles, and services as 
     authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, 
     $360,752,000, of which $66,665,000 shall remain available 
     until September 30, 2026:  Provided, That not to exceed 
     $7,180 shall be for official reception and representation 
     expenses.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For necessary expenses of the Federal Law Enforcement 
     Training Centers for procurement, construction, and 
     improvements, $6,000,000, to

[[Page H4178]]

     remain available until September 30, 2029, for acquisition of 
     necessary additional real property and facilities, 
     construction and ongoing maintenance, facility improvements 
     and related expenses of the Federal Law Enforcement Training 
     Centers.

                   Science and Technology Directorate

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of the Science and Technology 
     Directorate for operations and support, including the 
     purchase or lease of not to exceed 5 vehicles, $375,238,000, 
     of which $206,442,000 shall remain available until September 
     30, 2026:  Provided, That not to exceed $10,000 shall be for 
     official reception and representation expenses.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For necessary expenses of the Science and Technology 
     Directorate for procurement, construction, and improvements, 
     $30,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2029.

                        research and development

       For necessary expenses of the Science and Technology 
     Directorate for research and development, $339,353,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2027.

             Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office

                         operations and support

       For necessary expenses of the Countering Weapons of Mass 
     Destruction Office for operations and support, $159,252,000, 
     of which $50,446,000 shall remain available until September 
     30, 2026:  Provided, That not to exceed $2,250 shall be for 
     official reception and representation expenses.

              procurement, construction, and improvements

       For necessary expenses of the Countering Weapons of Mass 
     Destruction Office for procurement, construction, and 
     improvements, $33,397,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2027.

                        research and development

       For necessary expenses of the Countering Weapons of Mass 
     Destruction Office for research and development, 
     $110,938,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027.

                           federal assistance

       For necessary expenses of the Countering Weapons of Mass 
     Destruction Office for Federal assistance through grants, 
     contracts, cooperative agreements, and other activities, 
     $57,726,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027.

                       Administrative Provisions

       Sec. 401. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     funds otherwise made available to U.S. Citizenship and 
     Immigration Services may be used to acquire, operate, equip, 
     and dispose of up to 5 vehicles, for replacement only, for 
     areas where the Administrator of General Services does not 
     provide vehicles for lease.
       (b) The Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
     Services may authorize employees who are assigned to those 
     areas to use such vehicles to travel between the employees' 
     residences and places of employment.
       Sec. 402.  None of the funds appropriated by this Act may 
     be used to process or approve a competition under Office of 
     Management and Budget Circular A-76 for services provided by 
     employees (including employees serving on a temporary or term 
     basis) of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the 
     Department of Homeland Security who are known as Immigration 
     Information Officers, Immigration Service Analysts, Contact 
     Representatives, Investigative Assistants, or Immigration 
     Services Officers.
       Sec. 403.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any 
     Federal funds made available to U.S. Citizenship and 
     Immigration Services may be used for the collection and use 
     of biometrics taken at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
     Services Application Support Center that is overseen 
     virtually by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 
     personnel using appropriate technology.
       Sec. 404.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to implement, 
     administer, or enforce the rule entitled ``Procedures or 
     Credible Fear Screening and Consideration of Asylum, 
     Withholding of Removal, and CAT Protection Claims by Asylum 
     Officers'' (87 Fed. Reg. 18078).
       Sec. 405.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to issue any 
     employment authorization document or similar document to any 
     alien whose application for asylum in the United States has 
     been denied, or who is convicted of a Federal or State crime 
     while his or her application for asylum in the United States 
     is pending.
       Sec. 406.  Notwithstanding the numerical limitation set 
     forth in section 214(g)(1)(B) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(1)(B)), the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security, after consultation with the Secretary of 
     Labor, and upon determining that the needs of American 
     businesses cannot be satisfied during fiscal year 2025 with 
     United States workers who are willing, qualified, and able to 
     perform temporary nonagricultural labor, may increase the 
     total number of aliens who may receive a visa under setion 
     101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b)) in such fiscal year above such 
     limitation by not more than the highest number of H-2B 
     nonimmigrants who participated in the H-2B returning worker 
     program in any fiscal year in which returning workers were 
     exempt from such numerical limitation.
       Sec. 407.  Notwithstanding section 286(n) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(n)), the 
     Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may use 
     not more than $2,500 of the amounts deposited in the 
     Immigration Examinations Fee Account for official reception 
     and representation expenses in fiscal year 2025.
       Sec. 408.  No Federal funds made available to the 
     Department of Homeland Security may be used for the 
     consideration of a petition for a nonimmigrant visa under 
     section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act, if the petitioner is any entity identified 
     under section 1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 
     (Public Law 116-283) or any subsidiary of such entity.
       Sec. 409.  The Director of the Federal Law Enforcement 
     Training Centers is authorized to distribute funds to Federal 
     law enforcement agencies for expenses incurred participating 
     in training accreditation.
       Sec. 410.  The Federal Law Enforcement Training 
     Accreditation Board, including representatives from the 
     Federal law enforcement community and non-Federal 
     accreditation experts involved in law enforcement training, 
     shall lead the Federal law enforcement training accreditation 
     process to continue the implementation of measuring and 
     assessing the quality and effectiveness of Federal law 
     enforcement training programs, facilities, and instructors.
       Sec. 411. (a) The Director of the Federal Law Enforcement 
     Training Centers may accept transfers to its ``Procurement, 
     Construction, and Improvements'' account from Government 
     agencies requesting the construction of special use 
     facilities, as authorized by the Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 
     1535(b)).
       (b) The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers shall 
     maintain administrative control and ownership upon completion 
     of such facilities.
       Sec. 412.  The functions of the Federal Law Enforcement 
     Training Centers instructor staff shall be classified as 
     inherently governmental for purposes of the Federal 
     Activities Inventory Reform Act of 1998 (31 U.S.C. 501 note).
       Sec. 414.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be made available to implement, administer, or enforce the 
     ``Asylum Program Fee'' from the Final Rule entitled ``U.S. 
     Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Schedule and Changes 
     to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements'' 
     (88 Fed. Reg. 6194).

                                TITLE V

                           GENERAL PROVISIONS

             (including transfers and rescissions of funds)

       Sec. 501.  No part of any appropriation contained in this 
     Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current 
     fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
       Sec. 502.  Subject to the requirements of section 503 of 
     this Act, the unexpended balances of prior appropriations 
     provided for activities in this Act may be transferred to 
     appropriation accounts for such activities established 
     pursuant to this Act, may be merged with funds in the 
     applicable established accounts, and thereafter may be 
     accounted for as one fund for the same time period as 
     originally enacted.
       Sec. 503. (a) None of the funds provided by this Act, 
     provided by previous appropriations Acts to the components in 
     or transferred to the Department of Homeland Security that 
     remain available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal year 
     2025, or provided from any accounts in the Treasury of the 
     United States derived by the collection of fees available to 
     the components funded by this Act, shall be available for 
     obligation or expenditure through a reprogramming of funds 
     that--
       (1) creates or eliminates a program, project, or activity, 
     or increases funds for any program, project, or activity for 
     which funds have been denied or restricted by the Congress;
       (2) contracts out any function or activity presently 
     performed by Federal employees or any new function or 
     activity proposed to be performed by Federal employees in the 
     President's budget proposal for fiscal year 2025 for the 
     Department of Homeland Security;
       (3) augments funding for existing programs, projects, or 
     activities in excess of $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever 
     is less;
       (4) reduces funding for any program, project, or activity, 
     or numbers of personnel, by 10 percent or more; or
       (5) results from any general savings from a reduction in 
     personnel that would result in a change in funding levels for 
     programs, projects, or activities as approved by the 
     Congress.
       (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply if the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     are notified at least 30 days in advance of such 
     reprogramming.
       (c) Up to 5 percent of any appropriation made available for 
     the current fiscal year for the Department of Homeland 
     Security by this Act or provided by previous appropriations 
     Acts may be transferred between such appropriations if the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate are notified at least 30 days in advance of 
     such transfer, but no such appropriation, except as otherwise 
     specifically provided, shall be increased by more than 10 
     percent by such transfer.
       (d) Notwithstanding subsections (a), (b), and (c), no funds 
     shall be reprogrammed within or transferred between 
     appropriations--
       (1) based upon an initial notification provided after June 
     15, except in extraordinary circumstances that imminently 
     threaten the safety of human life or the protection of 
     property;
       (2) to increase or decrease funding for grant programs; or
       (3) to create a program, project, or activity pursuant to 
     subsection (a)(1), including any new function or requirement 
     within any program, project, or activity, not approved by 
     Congress in the consideration of the enactment of this Act.
       (e) The notification thresholds and procedures set forth in 
     subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d)

[[Page H4179]]

     shall apply to any use of deobligated balances of funds 
     provided in previous Department of Homeland Security 
     Appropriations Acts that remain available for obligation in 
     the current year.
       (f) Notwithstanding subsection (c), the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security may transfer to the fund established by 8 
     U.S.C. 1101 note, up to $20,000,000 from appropriations 
     available to the Department of Homeland Security:  Provided, 
     That the Secretary shall notify the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     at least 5 days in advance of such transfer.
       Sec. 504. (a) Section 504 of the Department of Homeland 
     Security Appropriations Act, 2017 (division F of Public Law 
     115-31), related to the operations of a working capital fund, 
     shall apply with respect to funds made available in this Act 
     in the same manner as such section applied to funds made 
     available in that Act.
       (b) Funds from such working capital fund may be obligated 
     and expended in anticipation of reimbursements from 
     components of the Department of Homeland Security.
       Sec. 505. (a) Except as otherwise specifically provided by 
     law, not to exceed 50 percent of unobligated balances 
     remaining available at the end of fiscal year 2025, as 
     recorded in the financial records at the time of a 
     reprogramming notification, but not later than June 15, 2026, 
     from appropriations for ``Operations and Support'' for fiscal 
     year 2025 in this Act shall remain available through 
     September 30, 2026, in the account and for the purposes for 
     which the appropriations were provided.
       (b) Prior to the obligation of such funds, a notification 
     shall be submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives and the Senate in accordance with 
     section 503 of this Act.
       Sec. 506. (a) Funds made available by this Act for 
     intelligence activities are deemed to be specifically 
     authorized by the Congress for purposes of section 504 of the 
     National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 414) during fiscal 
     year 2025 until the enactment of an Act authorizing 
     intelligence activities for fiscal year 2025.
       (b) Amounts described in subsection (a) made available for 
     ``Intelligence, Analysis, and Situational Awareness--
     Operations and Support'' that exceed the amounts in such 
     authorization for such account shall be transferred to and 
     merged with amounts made available under the heading 
     ``Management Directorate--Operations and Support''.
       (c) Prior to the obligation of any funds transferred under 
     subsection (b), the Management Directorate shall brief the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate on a plan for the use of such funds.
       Sec. 507. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security, or the 
     designee of the Secretary, shall notify the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     at least 3 full business days in advance of--
       (1) making or awarding a grant allocation or grant in 
     excess of $1,000,000;
       (2) making or awarding a contract, other transaction 
     agreement, or task or delivery order on a multiple award 
     contract, or to issue a letter of intent totaling in excess 
     of $4,000,000;
       (3) awarding a task or delivery order requiring an 
     obligation of funds in an amount greater than $10,000,000 
     from multi-year Department of Homeland Security funds;
       (4) making a sole-source grant award; or
       (5) announcing publicly the intention to make or award 
     items under paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4), including a 
     contract covered by the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
       (b) If the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that 
     compliance with this section would pose a substantial risk to 
     human life, health, or safety, an award may be made without 
     notification, and the Secretary shall notify the Committees 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate not later than 5 full business days after such an 
     award is made or letter issued.
       (c) A notification under this section--
       (1) may not involve funds that are not available for 
     obligation; and
       (2) shall include the amount of the award; the fiscal year 
     for which the funds for the award were appropriated; the type 
     of contract; and the account from which the funds are being 
     drawn.
       Sec. 508.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
     agency shall purchase, construct, or lease any additional 
     facilities, except within or contiguous to existing 
     locations, to be used for the purpose of conducting Federal 
     law enforcement training without advance notification to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate, except that the Federal Law Enforcement 
     Training Centers is authorized to obtain the temporary use of 
     additional facilities by lease, contract, or other agreement 
     for training that cannot be accommodated in existing Centers' 
     facilities.
       Sec. 509.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be used for expenses for any 
     construction, repair, alteration, or acquisition project for 
     which a prospectus otherwise required under chapter 33 of 
     title 40, United States Code, has not been approved, except 
     that necessary funds may be expended for each project for 
     required expenses for the development of a proposed 
     prospectus.
       Sec. 510.  Sections 522 and 530 of the Department of 
     Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2008 (division E of 
     Public Law 110-161; 121 Stat. 2073 and 2074) shall apply with 
     respect to funds made available in this Act in the same 
     manner as such sections applied to funds made available in 
     that Act.
       Sec. 511. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act 
     may be used in contravention of the applicable provisions of 
     the Buy American Act.
       (b) For purposes of subsection (a), the term ``Buy American 
     Act'' means chapter 83 of title 41, United States Code.
       Sec. 512.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used to amend the oath of allegiance required by section 
     337 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1448).
       Sec. 513.  None of the funds provided or otherwise made 
     available in this Act shall be available to carry out section 
     872 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 452) 
     unless explicitly authorized by the Congress.
       Sec. 514.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used for planning, testing, piloting, or developing a 
     national identification card.
       Sec. 515.  Any official that is required by this Act to 
     report or to certify to the Committees on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives and the Senate may not delegate 
     such authority to perform that act unless specifically 
     authorized herein.
       Sec. 516.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used for first-class travel by the employees of agencies 
     funded by this Act in contravention of sections 301-10.122 
     through 301-10.124 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations.
       Sec. 517.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used to employ workers described in section 274A(h)(3) of 
     the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a(h)(3)).
       Sec. 518.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 
     none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by 
     this Act may be used to pay award or incentive fees for 
     contractor performance that has been judged to be below 
     satisfactory performance or performance that does not meet 
     the basic requirements of a contract.
       Sec. 519. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act 
     may be used to maintain or establish a computer network 
     unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and 
     exchanging of pornography.
       (b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds 
     necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, territorial, or 
     local law enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out 
     criminal investigations, prosecution, or adjudication 
     activities.
       Sec. 520.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used by a Federal law enforcement officer to facilitate 
     the transfer of an operable firearm to an individual if the 
     Federal law enforcement officer knows or suspects that the 
     individual is an agent of a drug cartel unless law 
     enforcement personnel of the United States continuously 
     monitor or control the firearm at all times.
       Sec. 521. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act 
     may be used to pay for the travel to or attendance of more 
     than 50 employees of a single component of the Department of 
     Homeland Security, who are stationed in the United States, at 
     a single international conference unless the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security, or a designee, determines that such 
     attendance is in the national interest and notifies the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate within at least 10 days of that determination 
     and the basis for that determination.
       (b) For purposes of this section the term ``international 
     conference'' shall mean a conference occurring outside of the 
     United States attended by representatives of the United 
     States Government and of foreign governments, international 
     organizations, or nongovernmental organizations.
       (c) The total cost to the Department of Homeland Security 
     of any such conference shall not exceed $500,000.
       (d) Employees who attend a conference virtually without 
     travel away from their permanent duty station within the 
     United States shall not be counted for purposes of this 
     section, and the prohibition contained in this section shall 
     not apply to payments for the costs of attendance for such 
     employees.
       Sec. 522.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used to reimburse any Federal department or agency for its 
     participation in a National Special Security Event.
       Sec. 523. (a) None of the funds made available to the 
     Department of Homeland Security by this or any other Act may 
     be obligated for the implementation of any structural pay 
     reform or the introduction of any new position classification 
     that will affect more than 100 full-time positions or costs 
     more than $5,000,000 in a single year before the end of the 
     30-day period beginning on the date on which the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security submits to Congress a notification that 
     includes--
       (1) the number of full-time positions affected by such 
     change;
       (2) funding required for such change for the current fiscal 
     year and through the Future Years Homeland Security Program;
       (3) justification for such change; and
       (4) for a structural pay reform, an analysis of 
     compensation alternatives to such change that were considered 
     by the Department.
       (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to such change if--
       (1) it was proposed in the President's budget proposal for 
     the fiscal year funded by this Act; and
       (2) funds for such change have not been explicitly denied 
     or restricted in this Act.
       Sec. 524. (a) Any agency receiving funds made available in 
     this Act shall, subject to subsections (b) and (c), post on 
     the public website of that agency any report required to be 
     submitted by the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate in this Act, upon the 
     determination by the head of the agency that it shall serve 
     the national interest.
       (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if--
       (1) the public posting of the report compromises homeland 
     or national security; or
       (2) the report contains proprietary information.
       (c) The head of the agency posting such report shall do so 
     only after such report has been

[[Page H4180]]

     made available to the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives and the Senate for not less than 45 
     days except as otherwise specified in law.
       Sec. 525. (a) Funding provided in this Act for ``Operations 
     and Support'' may be used for minor procurement, 
     construction, and improvements.
       (b) For purposes of subsection (a), ``minor'' refers to end 
     items with a unit cost of $250,000 or less for personal 
     property, and $2,000,000 or less for real property.
       Sec. 526.  The authority provided by section 532 of the 
     Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2018 
     (Public Law 115-141) regarding primary and secondary 
     schooling of dependents shall continue in effect during 
     fiscal year 2025.
       Sec. 527. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
     made available to the Department of Homeland Security by this 
     Act may be used to prevent any of the following persons from 
     entering, for the purpose of conducting oversight, any 
     facility operated by or for the Department of Homeland 
     Security used to detain or otherwise house aliens, or to make 
     any temporary modification at any such facility that in any 
     way alters what is observed by a visiting Member of Congress 
     or such designated employee, compared to what would be 
     observed in the absence of such modification:
       (1) A Member of Congress; and
       (2) An employee of the United States House of 
     Representatives or the United States Senate designated by 
     such a Member for the purposes of this section.
       (b) Nothing in this section may be construed to require a 
     Member of Congress to provide prior notice of the intent to 
     enter a facility described in subsection (a) for the purpose 
     of conducting oversight.
       (c) With respect to individuals described in subsection 
     (a)(2), the Department of Homeland Security may require that 
     a request be made at least 24 hours in advance of an intent 
     to enter a facility described in subsection (a).
       Sec. 528. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), none of 
     the funds made available in this Act may be used to place 
     restraints on a woman in the custody of the Department of 
     Homeland Security (including during transport, in a detention 
     facility, or at an outside medical facility) who is pregnant 
     or in post-delivery recuperation.
       (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to a 
     pregnant woman if--
       (1) an appropriate official of the Department of Homeland 
     Security makes an individualized determination that the 
     woman--
       (A) is a serious flight risk, and such risk cannot be 
     prevented by other means; or
       (B) poses an immediate and serious threat to harm herself 
     or others that cannot be prevented by other means; or
       (2) a medical professional responsible for the care of the 
     pregnant woman determines that the use of therapeutic 
     restraints is appropriate for the medical safety of the 
     woman.
       (c) If a pregnant woman is restrained pursuant to 
     subsection (b), only the safest and least restrictive 
     restraints, as determined by the appropriate medical 
     professional treating the woman, may be used. In no case may 
     restraints be used on a woman who is in active labor or 
     delivery, and in no case may a pregnant woman be restrained 
     in a face-down position with four-point restraints, on her 
     back, or in a restraint belt that constricts the area of the 
     pregnancy. A pregnant woman who is immobilized by restraints 
     shall be positioned, to the maximum extent feasible, on her 
     left side.
       Sec. 529. (a) None of the funds made available by this Act 
     may be used to destroy any document, recording, or other 
     record pertaining to any--
       (1) death of;
       (2) potential sexual assault or abuse perpetrated against; 
     or
       (3) allegation of abuse, criminal activity, or disruption 
     committed by an individual held in the custody of the 
     Department of Homeland Security.
       (b) The records referred to in subsection (a) shall be made 
     available, in accordance with applicable laws and 
     regulations, and Federal rules governing disclosure in 
     litigation, to an individual who has been charged with a 
     crime, been placed into segregation, or otherwise punished as 
     a result of an allegation described in paragraph (3), upon 
     the request of such individual.
       Sec. 530.  Section 519 of division F of Public Law 114-113, 
     regarding a prohibition on funding for any position 
     designated as a Principal Federal Official, shall apply with 
     respect to any Federal funds in the same manner as such 
     section applied to funds made available in that Act.
       Sec. 531. (a) Not later than 10 days after the date on 
     which the budget of the President for a fiscal year is 
     submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 
     31, United States Code, the Under Secretary for Management of 
     Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     a report on the unfunded priorities, for the Department of 
     Homeland Security and separately for each departmental 
     component, for which discretionary funding would be 
     classified as budget function 050.
       (b) Each report under this section shall specify, for each 
     such unfunded priority--
       (1) a summary description, including the objectives to be 
     achieved if such priority is funded (whether in whole or in 
     part);
       (2) the description, including the objectives to be 
     achieved if such priority is funded (whether in whole or in 
     part);
       (3) account information, including the following (as 
     applicable):
       (A) appropriation account; and
       (B) program, project, or activity name; and
       (4) the additional number of full-time or part-time 
     positions to be funded as part of such priority.
       (c) In this section, the term ``unfunded priority'', in the 
     case of a fiscal year, means a requirement that--
       (1) is not funded in the budget referred to in subsection 
     (a);
       (2) is necessary to fulfill a requirement associated with 
     an operational or contingency plan for the Department; and
       (3) would have been recommended for funding through the 
     budget referred to in subsection (a) if--
       (A) additional resources had been available for the budget 
     to fund the requirement;
       (B) the requirement has emerged since the budget was 
     formulated; or
       (C) the requirement is necessary to sustain prior-year 
     investments.
       Sec. 532. (a) Not later than 10 days after a determination 
     is made by the President to evaluate and initiate protection 
     under any authority for a former or retired Government 
     official or employee, or for an individual who, during the 
     duration of the directed protection, will become a former or 
     retired Government official or employee (referred to in this 
     section as a ``covered individual''), the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security shall submit a notification to 
     congressional leadership and the Committees on Appropriations 
     of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the 
     Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
     House of Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security 
     and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on 
     Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives 
     (referred to in this section as the ``appropriate 
     congressional committees'').
       (b) Such notification may be submitted in classified form, 
     if necessary, and in consultation with the Director of 
     National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau 
     of Investigation, as appropriate, and shall include the 
     threat assessment, scope of the protection, and the 
     anticipated cost and duration of such protection.
       (c) Not later than 15 days before extending, or 30 days 
     before terminating, protection for a covered individual, the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a notification 
     regarding the extension or termination and any change to the 
     threat assessment to the congressional leadership and the 
     appropriate congressional committees.
       (d) Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, and quarterly thereafter, the Secretary shall 
     submit a report to the congressional leadership and the 
     appropriate congressional committees, which may be submitted 
     in classified form, if necessary, detailing each covered 
     individual, and the scope and associated cost of protection.
       Sec. 533. (a) None of the funds provided to the Department 
     of Homeland Security in this or any prior Act may be used by 
     an agency to submit an initial project proposal to the 
     Technology Modernization Fund (as authorized by section 1078 
     of subtitle G of title X of the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91)) 
     unless, concurrent with the submission of an initial project 
     proposal to the Technology Modernization Board, the head of 
     the agency--
       (1) notifies the Committees on Appropriations of the House 
     of Representatives and the Senate of the proposed submission 
     of the project proposal;
       (2) submits to the Committees on Appropriations a copy of 
     the project proposal; and
       (3) provides a detailed analysis of how the proposed 
     project funding would supplement or supplant funding 
     requested as part of the Department's most recent budget 
     submission.
       (b) None of the funds provided to the Department of 
     Homeland Security by the Technology Modernization Fund shall 
     be available for obligation until 15 days after a report on 
     such funds has been transmitted to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate.
       (c) The report described in subsection (b) shall include--
       (1) the full project proposal submitted to and approved by 
     the Fund's Technology Modernization Board;
       (2) the finalized interagency agreement between the 
     Department and the Fund including the project's deliverables 
     and repayment terms, as applicable;
       (3) a detailed analysis of how the project will supplement 
     or supplant existing funding available to the Department for 
     similar activities;
       (4) a plan for how the Department will repay the Fund, 
     including specific planned funding sources, as applicable; 
     and
       (5) other information as determined by the Secretary.
       Sec. 534.  Within 60 days of any budget submission for the 
     Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2026 that 
     assumes revenues or proposes a reduction from the previous 
     year based on user fees proposals that have not been enacted 
     into law prior to the submission of the budget, the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security shall provide the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     specific reductions in proposed discretionary budget 
     authority commensurate with the revenues assumed in such 
     proposals in the event that they are not enacted prior to 
     October 1, 2025.
       Sec. 535.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be obligated or expended to implement the Arms Trade Treaty 
     until the Senate approves a resolution of ratification for 
     the Treaty.
       Sec. 536.  No Federal funds made available to the 
     Department of Homeland Security may be used to enter into a 
     procurement contract, memorandum of understanding, or 
     cooperative agreement with, or make a grant to, or provide

[[Page H4181]]

     a loan or guarantee to, any entity identified under section 
     1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283) 
     or any subsidiary of such entity.
       Sec. 537.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available in this or any other Act may be used to transfer, 
     release, or assist in the transfer or release to or within 
     the United States, its territories, or possessions Khalid 
     Sheikh Mohammed or any other detainee who--
       (1) is not a United States citizen or a member of the Armed 
     Forces of the United States; and
       (2) is or was held on or after June 24, 2009, at the United 
     States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by the Department 
     of Defense.
       Sec. 538. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security (in this 
     section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall, on a 
     bimonthly basis beginning immediately after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, develop estimates of the number of 
     aliens anticipated to arrive at the southwest border of the 
     United States.
       (b) The Secretary shall ensure that, at a minimum, the 
     estimates developed pursuant to subsection (a)--
       (1) cover the current fiscal year and the following fiscal 
     year;
       (2) include a breakout by demographics, to include single 
     adults, family units, and unaccompanied children;
       (3) undergo an independent validation and verification 
     review;
       (4) are used to inform policy planning and budgeting 
     processes within the Department of Homeland Security; and
       (5) are included in the budget materials submitted to 
     Congress for each fiscal year beginning after the date of 
     enactment of this Act and in support of--
       (A) the President's annual budget request pursuant to 
     section 1105 of title 31, United States Code;
       (B) any supplemental funding request submitted to Congress;
       (C) any reprogramming and transfer notification pursuant to 
     section 503 of this Act; and
       (D) such budget materials shall include--
       (i) the most recent bimonthly estimates developed pursuant 
     to subsection (a);
       (ii) a description and quantification of the estimates used 
     to justify funding requests for Department programs related 
     to border security, immigration enforcement, and immigration 
     services;
       (iii) a description and quantification of the anticipated 
     workload and requirements resulting from such estimates; and
       (iv) a confirmation as to whether the budget requests for 
     impacted agencies were developed using the same estimates.
       (c) The Secretary shall share the bimonthly estimates 
     developed pursuant to subsection (a) with the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services, the Attorney General, the 
     Secretary of State, and the Committees on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives and the Senate.
       (d) If the bimonthly estimates described in subsection (b) 
     are not provided for the purposes described, the 
     reprogramming and transfer authority provided in section 503 
     of this Act shall be suspended until such time as the 
     required estimates are provided to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate.
       Sec. 539. (a) Prior to the Secretary of Homeland Security 
     requesting assistance from the Department of Defense for 
     border security operations, the Secretary shall ensure that 
     an alternatives analysis and cost-benefit analysis is 
     conducted before such request is made, which shall include an 
     examination of obtaining such support through other means.
       (b) Not later than 30 days after the date on which a 
     request for assistance is made, the Secretary of Homeland 
     Security shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives and the Senate a report 
     detailing the types of support requested, the alternatives 
     analysis and cost-benefit analysis described in subsection 
     (a), and the operational impact to Department of Homeland 
     Security operations of any Department of Defense border 
     security support requested by the Secretary.
       (c) Not later than 30 days after the date on which a 
     request made for assistance is granted and quarterly 
     thereafter through the duration of such assistance, the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate, a report detailing the assistance provided and the 
     operational impacts to border security operations.
       Sec. 540.  Funds made available in this Act or any other 
     Act for Operations and Support may be used for the necessary 
     expenses of providing an employee emergency back-up care 
     program.
       Sec. 541. (a) Not less than $5,000,000 made available in 
     this Act shall be transferred to ``U.S. Immigration and 
     Customs Enforcement--Operations and Support'' to support and 
     conduct necessary operations of the Blue Campaign for fiscal 
     year 2025.
       (b) Prior to the obligation of funds made available by 
     subsection (a), notification shall be submitted to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate.
       Sec. 542. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
     made available by this Act or any other Act shall be used to 
     execute an inspection of a detention facility that is in a 
     contractual agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs 
     Enforcement for the provision of detention services and that 
     is subject to the terms, conditions, and standards found 
     within the National Detention Standards for Non-Dedicated 
     Facilities, as revised in 2019 for U.S. Immigration and 
     Customs Enforcement, except solely for compliance with the 
     terms, conditions, and standards found within the National 
     Detention Standards for Non-Dedicated Facilities, as revised 
     in 2019.
       (b) Executions of inspections described in subsection (a) 
     shall not occur within six months of a previous inspection of 
     such facility, except with respect to inspections executed by 
     the Office of Inspector General.
       Sec. 543.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to implement, 
     administer, or enforce the rule entitled ``Circumvention of 
     Lawful Pathways'' (88 Fed. Reg. 11704).
       Sec. 544.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to establish or 
     support the activities of a Disinformation Governance Board 
     at the Department of Homeland Security, or any other similar 
     entity carrying out activities relating to disinformation in 
     a similar manner or to a similar extent to such a Board.
       Sec. 545.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to:
        (a) classify or facilitate the classification of any 
     communications by a United States person as mis-, dis-, or 
     mal-information; or
       (b) partner with or fund nonprofit or other organizations 
     that pressure or recommend private companies to censor lawful 
     and constitutionally protected speech of United States 
     persons, including recommending the censoring or removal of 
     content on social media platforms.
       (c) Any officer or employee of the Federal Government whose 
     salary is funded by this Act and who conducts any activity 
     described in (a) or (b) shall be removed from the Federal 
     service.
       Sec. 546.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to implement, 
     administer, apply, enforce, or carry out the Equity Action 
     Plan of the Department of Homeland Security, or Executive 
     Order No. 13985 of January 20, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 7009, 
     relating to advancing racial equity and support for 
     underserved communities through the federal government), 
     Executive Order No. 14035 of June 25, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 
     34593, relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and 
     accessibility in the federal workforce), Executive Order No. 
     14091 of February 16, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 10825 relating to 
     further advancing racial equity and support for underserved 
     communities through the federal government) or any program, 
     project, or activity that promotes or advances Critical Race 
     Theory or any concept associated with Critical Race Theory.
       Sec. 547. (a) In general.--Notwithstanding section 7 of 
     title 1, United States Code, section 1738C of title 28, 
     United States Code, or any other provision of law, none of 
     the funds provided by this Act, or previous appropriations 
     Acts, shall be used in whole or in part to take any 
     discriminatory action against a person, wholly or partially, 
     on the basis that such person speaks, or acts, in accordance 
     with a sincerely held religious belief, or moral conviction, 
     that marriage is, or should be recognized as, a union of one 
     man and one woman.
       (b) Discriminatory action defined.--As used in subsection 
     (a), a discriminatory action means any action taken by the 
     Federal Government to--
       (1) alter in any way the Federal tax treatment of, or cause 
     any tax, penalty, or payment to be assessed against, or deny, 
     delay, or revoke an exemption from taxation under section 
     501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of, any person 
     referred to in subsection (a);
       (2) disallow a deduction for Federal tax purposes of any 
     charitable contribution made to or by such person;
       (3) withhold, reduce the amount or funding for, exclude, 
     terminate, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, any Federal 
     grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, 
     guarantee, loan, scholarship, license, certification, 
     accreditation, employment, or other similar position or 
     status from or to such person;
       (4) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make 
     unavailable or deny, any entitlement or benefit under a 
     Federal benefit program, including admission to, equal 
     treatment in, or eligibility for a degree from an educational 
     program, from or to such person; or
       (5) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make 
     unavailable or deny access or an entitlement to Federal 
     property, facilities, educational institutions, speech fora 
     (including traditional, limited, and nonpublic fora), or 
     charitable fundraising campaigns from or to such person.
       (c) Accreditation; Licensure; Certification.--The Federal 
     Government shall consider accredited, licensed, or certified 
     for purposes of Federal law any person that would be 
     accredited, licensed, or certified, respectively, for such 
     purposes but for a determination against such person wholly 
     or partially on the basis that the person speaks, or acts, in 
     accordance with a sincerely held religious belief or moral 
     conviction described in subsection (a).
       Sec. 548. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise 
     made available in this or any other Act may be used to 
     license, facilitate, coordinate, or otherwise allow officials 
     of a country designated as a state sponsor of terrorism 
     within the past three fiscal years, to, in their capacity as 
     an official, observe, tour, visit, or confer with the 
     employees of the Department of Homeland Security.
       (b) The term ``state sponsor of terrorism'' means a country 
     the government of which the Secretary of State determines has 
     repeatedly provided support for international terrorism 
     pursuant to section 1754(c)(1)(A) of the Export Control 
     Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4813(c)(1)(A)); section 620A of 
     the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371); section 
     40 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2780); or any 
     other provision of law.
       Sec. 549.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to obligate or award funds to a political subdivision 
     of a State that--
        (a) has in effect any law, policy, or procedure, whether 
     written or communicated orally, in contravention of, or which 
     substantially limits compliance with, subsection (a) or (b) 
     of section 642

[[Page H4182]]

     of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration 
     Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1373); or
       (b) has in effect any law, policy, or procedure, whether 
     written or communicated orally, the result of which hinders 
     the federal government from enforcing the immigration laws as 
     defined by 8 U.S.C. 101(a)(17).

                         (rescissions of funds)

       Sec. 550.  Of the funds appropriated to the Department of 
     Homeland Security, the following funds are hereby rescinded 
     from the following accounts and programs in the specified 
     amounts: Provided, That no amounts may be rescinded from 
     amounts that were designated by the Congress as an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget 
     or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985:
       (1) $600,000,000 from the unobligated balances available 
     under the heading ``U.S. Customs and Border Protection--
     Procurement, Construction, and Improvements'' of the amounts 
     provided by Public Law 116-260 for the construction of 
     barrier system along the southwest border.
       Sec. 551.  Of the unobligated balances in the ``Department 
     of Homeland Security Nonrecurring Expenses Fund'' established 
     in section 538 of division F of Public Law 117-103, 
     $154,000,000 are hereby rescinded.

                       SPENDING REDUCTION ACCOUNT

       Sec. 552.  $0.
       This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Homeland 
     Security Appropriations Act, 2025.''

  The CHAIR. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as 
amended, are waived.
  No further amendment to the bill, as amended, shall be in order 
except those printed in part C of House Report 118-559, amendments en 
bloc described in section 13 of House Resolution 1316, and pro forma 
amendments described in section 14 of that resolution.
  Each further amendment printed in part C of the report shall be 
considered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only 
by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, 
shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided 
and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject 
to amendment except as provided in section 14 of House Resolution 1316, 
and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question.
  It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the Committee on 
Appropriations or his designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting 
of amendments printed in part C of the report not earlier disposed of. 
Amendments en bloc shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 
20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their designees, 
shall not be subject to amendment, except as provided in section 14 of 
House Resolution 1316, and shall not be subject to a demand for 
division of the question.
  During consideration of the bill for amendment, the chair and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective 
designees may offer up to 10 pro forma amendments each at any point for 
the purpose of debate.


        Amendments En Bloc No. 1 Offered by Mr. Amodei of Nevada

  Mr. AMODEI. Madam Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1316, I offer 
amendments en bloc.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.
  Amendments en bloc No. 1 consisting of amendment Nos. 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 
13, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, 41, 
47, 49, 51, 60, and 61 printed in part C of House Report 118-559, 
offered by Mr. Amodei of Nevada:


            Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Bacon of Nebraska

       Page 58, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000) (reduced by $2,000,000)''.


           Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mr. Buchanan of Florida

       Page 2, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $3,000,000)''.
       Page 18, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 18, line 20, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 18, line 21, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.


           Amendment No. 7 Offered by Mr. Buchanan of Florida

       Page 2, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $4,000,000)''.
       Page 12, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $4,000,000)''.


           Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mr. Buchanan of Florida

       Page 2, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $3,000,000)''.
       Page 58, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $3,000,000)''.


           Amendment No. 10 Offered by Ms. Castor of Florida

       Page 45, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $305,000,000) (increased by ($305,000,000)''.


         Amendment No. 13 Offered by Mr. Garbarino of New York

       Page 45, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $80,000,000) (reduced by $80,000,000)''.


        Amendment No. 16 Offered by Mr. Gottheimer of New Jersey

       Page 43, line 24, after the first dollar amount insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.


        Amendment No. 17 Offered by Mr. Gottheimer of New Jersey

       Page 11, line 4, after the dollar amount insert ``(reduced 
     by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.


           Amendment No. 21 Offered by Mr. James of Michigan

       Page 1, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $20,000,000)''.
       Page 16, line 20, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $20,000,000)''.


           Amendment No. 22 Offered by Mrs. Kim of California

       Page 24, line 17, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.


           Amendment No. 23 Offered by Mr. LaLota of New York

       Page 16, line 1, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.


           Amendment No. 24 Offered by Mr. LaLota of New York

       Page 16, line 20, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.


           AMENDMENT NO. 25 OFFERED BY MR. LaLOTA OF NEW YORK

       Page 15, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $35,000,000) (increased by $35,000,000)''.


          AMENDMENT NO. 26 OFFERED BY MR. LEVIN OF CALIFORNIA

       Page 11, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $10,000,000) (reduced by $10,000,000)''.


          AMENDMENT NO. 27 OFFERED BY MR. LEVIN OF CALIFORNIA

       Page 12, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $10,000,000) (reduced by $10,000,000)''.


            AMENDMENT NO. 28 OFFERED BY MR. McCAUL OF TEXAS

       Page 43, line 24, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $8,000,000) (increased by $8,000,000)''.


          AMENDMENT NO. 31 OFFERED BY MR. MOLINARO OF NEW YORK

       Page 1, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 43, line 24, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.


             AMENDMENT NO. 33 OFFERED BY MR. MOYLAN OF GUAM

       Page 16, line 20, after dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by 
     $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.


             AMENDMENT NO. 34 OFFERED BY MR. MOYLAN OF GUAM

       Page 43, line 24, after first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.


             AMENDMENT NO. 35 OFFERED BY MR. MOYLAN OF GUAM

       Page 15, line 6, after dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by 
     $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.


             AMENDMENT NO. 36 OFFERED BY MR. MOYLAN OF GUAM

       Page 12, line 8, after dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by 
     $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.


        AMENDMENT NO. 40 OFFERED BY MR. NORMAN OF SOUTH CAROLINA

       Page 11, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.


        AMENDMENT NO. 41 OFFERED BY MR. NORMAN OF SOUTH CAROLINA

       Page 11, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.


         AMENDMENT NO. 47 OFFERED BY MR. PASCRELL OF NEW JERSEY

       Page 2, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $15,000,000)''.
       Page 44, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $15,000,000)''.
       Page 46, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $15,000,000)''.
       Page 46, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $7,500,000)''.
       Page 46, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $7,500,000)''.


          AMENDMENT NO. 49 OFFERED BY MR. PETERS OF CALIFORNIA

       Page 1, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $10,000,000) (decreased by $10,000,000)''.


      AMENDMENT NO. 51 OFFERED BY MRS. RADEWAGEN OF AMERICAN SAMOA

       Page 1, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,650,000)''.
       Page 16, line 1, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,650,000)''.


          AMENDMENT NO. 60 OFFERED BY MRS. WAGNER OF MISSOURI

       Page 2, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $5,000,000)''.

[[Page H4183]]

       Page 12, line 20, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $4,000,000)''.
       Page 12, line 20, after the second dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $4,000,000)''.


          AMENDMENT NO. 61 OFFERED BY MRS. WAGNER OF MISSOURI

       Page 2, line 10, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $3,000,000)''.
       Page 12, line 20, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 12, line 24, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Amodei) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood) 
each will control 10 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada.
  Mr. AMODEI. Madam Chair, the bipartisan en bloc amendment before you 
is comprised of 28 amendments offered by my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle.
  This en bloc amendment contains proposals that will strengthen the 
underlying bill. I want to highlight just a few.
  It would provide additional funding to bolster investigations for 
exploited children within Secret Service and Homeland Security 
Investigations.
  It highlights the Coast Guard's ongoing need for assets, 
infrastructure, and maintenance funding. It emphasizes the importance 
of nonintrusive inspection equipment for CBP ports of entry to improve 
detection of fentanyl and other opioids that plague communities across 
our country.
  It increases funds for FEMA grant programs for firefighters and other 
first responders and highlights the importance of grants that fund 
physical security improvements for nonprofit organizations at risk of 
terrorist attack.
  Again, I thank my colleagues for their participation in this process, 
I urge Members to support this bipartisan en bloc, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Chair, I rise in support of this amendment.
  I thank Chairman Amodei for working with us to include these 
bipartisan priorities in this amendment.
  While I do have some concerns about the extent to which some of these 
accounts would be cut by these amendments, I trust that we will be able 
to address those problems before this bill becomes law.
  Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. AMODEI. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).
  Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Chair, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.
  I have an amendment, Madam Chair, in this en bloc.
  I rise today in support of my amendment which would provide a fully 
offset and fully paid for 67 percent funding increase for 
investigations of forced child labor.
  Madam Chairman, as a direct result of the Biden administration's 
refusal to properly enforce the law, there is a humanitarian 
catastrophe underway at our southern border. Since President Biden took 
office, 10 million illegal migrants have flooded our borders, including 
8 million encountered by Border Patrol, 1.7 million got-aways, and some 
500,000 unaccompanied children.
  By law, the Biden administration is required to ensure these 
unaccompanied minors are protected from human trafficking. Instead, the 
administration has been essentially giving these children away with 
zero regard for their safety.
  It has been exposed that the Biden administration completely lost 
track of some 85,000 children, ignored countless warnings that these 
children were being trafficked, and fired employees for speaking out.
  There are even instances where the administration gave these children 
to adults without simply checking or vetting if the adult had even 
abused children or had a relationship with them in the past.
  Madam Chairman, this level of neglect and callousness is unspeakable, 
and we must ensure the Department of Homeland Security has the 
resources necessary to investigate each and every case.
  Madam Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and the 
entire en bloc.
  Mr. AMODEI. Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered by the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei).
  The en bloc amendments were agreed to.


                Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Armstrong

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 1 printed in 
part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. ARMSTRONG. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __. (a) None of the funds made available by this Act 
     may be used--
       (1) to reduce the hours of operation at--
       (A) the Port of Carbury, North Dakota, port of entry from 
     the operational hours of 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM CT daily;
       (B) the Port of Fortuna, North Dakota, port of entry from 
     the operational hours of 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM CT daily;
       (C) the Port of Madia, North Dakota, port of entry from the 
     operational hours of 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM CT daily;
       (D) the Port of Neche, North Dakota, port of entry from the 
     operational hours of 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM CT daily;
       (E) the Port of Noonan, North Dakota, port of entry from 
     the operational hours of 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM CT daily;
       (F) the Port of Northgate, North Dakota, port of entry from 
     the operational hours of 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM CT daily;
       (G) the Port of Saint John, North Dakota, port of entry 
     from the operational hours of 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM CT daily;
       (H) the Port of Sherwood, North Dakota, port of entry from 
     the operational hours of 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM CT daily;
       (I) the Port of Walhalla, North Dakota, port of entry from 
     the operational hours of 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM CT daily;
       (J) the Port of Westhope, North Dakota, port of entry from 
     the operational hours of 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM CT daily;
       (K) the Port of Antler, North Dakota, port of entry from 
     the operational hours of 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM CT daily;
       (L) the Port of Sarles, North Dakota, port of entry from 
     the operational hours of 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM CT daily;
       (M) the Port of Lancaster, Minnesota, port of entry from 
     the operational hours of 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM CT daily;
       (N) the Port of Roseau, Minnesota, port of entry from the 
     operational hours of 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM CT daily;
       (O) the Porthill, Idaho, land Port of entry, from the 
     operational hours of 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM PT daily; or
       (P) the Port of Buffalo, New York, port of entry from the 
     operational hours of 7:00 AM to 12:00AM ET daily;
       (2) to implement, administer, enforce, carry out, or 
     execute any rules, guidance, decisions, announcements, or 
     promulgations that reduce or change the hours of operation at 
     the ports of entry specified in paragraph (1); or
       (3) to publish, promulgate, or otherwise issue rules, 
     guidance, decisions, announcements, or promulgations that 
     reduce or change the hours of operation at the ports of entry 
     specified in paragraph (1).
       (b) The limitation described in paragraph (1) may not be 
     construed to apply in the case of the administration of a tax 
     or tariff.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman from 
North Dakota (Mr. Armstrong) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Dakota.
  Mr. ARMSTRONG. Madam Chair, it is pretty hard to get farther away 
from the southern border than Grand Forks, North Dakota, but in Grand 
Forks, just like many communities across North Dakota, somebody is 
dying from fentanyl poisoning, and 100 percent of those pills are made 
by cartels in Mexico.
  I rise today in support of my amendment No. 1 to the fiscal year 2025 
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations.
  If passed, this amendment will defund the implementation of COVID-19-
era guidance that reduces the hours of operation for Customs and Border 
Protection at certain northern border points of entry. Bringing these 
ports of entry hours back to their pre-pandemic schedule will help our 
Border Patrol agents respond to a massive increase in border encounters 
and non-marijuana-related drug seizures in places like North Dakota, 
Idaho, Minnesota, and western New York.
  According to CBP data, both land encounters and drug smuggling have 
skyrocketed in the past few years.
  Specifically, in January of 2021, there were only 997 northern land 
border encounters. Contrast that with January of 2024 when there were 
15,800 encounters. That is a 1,484 percent increase.

[[Page H4184]]

  Excluding marijuana, drug smuggling has also increased by 1,153 
percent along the borders between fiscal year 2021 and 2023.
  Due to the Biden administration's failure to secure our southwest 
border, our Border Patrol agents at the northern border have had to 
revert resources and personnel to the southwest border. Because of 
that, the northern border is now suffering.
  While we wholly support CBP and its efforts, we must ensure that full 
staffing and scheduling are enforced so we can be fully prepared to 
secure our northern border.
  Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, CBP reduced the hours of 
many of the ports of entry to mitigate the spread of the virus.
  Though the pandemic has long been over, those shortened hours have 
stayed in place.

                              {time}  1200

  This amendment would return those ports of entry to schedules they 
operated under before the pandemic. While CBP has extended hours for 
some of the ports, others have been forgotten.
  Along with several Northern Border Security Caucus members here in 
Congress, I have had lots of back and forth with the CBP regarding 
these hours. Expanding these hours will not only allow more staffing to 
apprehend and seize any illegal activity attempting to cross the 
border, but it will also greatly help the needs of Americans at the 
northern border.
  These ports of entry serve a vital role in connecting our States' 
economies with our neighbor, Canada. Our constituents heavily rely on 
them for tourism, church, trade, travel, healthcare, Tribal 
connections, and more.
  Since these hours remain shortened, we have heard from countless 
constituents about how they no longer can do many of the activities 
that I just mentioned, activities that they could do before with 
expanded hours.
  The ports of entry listed in this amendment used to serve as robust 
and active points of movement where our constituents could freely 
travel back and forth from the U.S. and Canada, and that needs to 
happen again.
  While we understand the CBP believes these ports of entry should 
solely be based on vehicular and pedestrian traffic, we know, because 
we have heard from our constituents, that the travelers are much less 
likely to use the ports given the shortened hours.
  In my State specifically, the Antler and Carbury stations were both 
open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. However, since the pandemic, their hours 
have remained from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. That is a 40 percent reduction.
  Requiring these ports to close early forces travelers to reroute to 
other ports of entry with longer hours. Take Ms. Rebecca Davis from 
Walhalla, North Dakota. During our northern border hearing that the 
House Judiciary Committee hosted in Grand Forks, she mentioned that 
what should be a quick trip takes several hours. She highlighted that 
our small towns--and when I say small towns, I mean really small 
towns--often get wrapped in the red tape of legal commerce on the 
border at the same time when we allow the open flow of illegal commerce 
on the southern border.
  This truly affects everyone in the ag community, the small towns, and 
every small sheriff's department on the northern border that has to 
divert resources to do a job that the Federal Government is supposed to 
do. Detours are particularly costly to commercial vehicles and ag 
vehicle operators due to rising inflation and high fuel costs.
  It is long past time that we change those hours back to pre-pandemic 
levels for good. We need all the hours and resources we can to ensure 
our borders are fully secure. This will also bring back our high 
traveler activity along the northern border that results in more 
travel, tourism, and more. I strongly support this amendment.
  Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Norman). The gentlewoman from Illinois is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, CBP conducts significant analysis when 
it comes to setting port of entry hours, which includes traffic trends, 
staffing availability, and the presence of other ports of entry within 
a reasonable distance. CBP also considers the economic ramifications of 
what a closure might have on local communities. Altering port of entry 
hours is not a decision made lightly.
  Removing CBP's discretion to limit hours for these ports of entry 
sets a bad precedent that fails to allow for the consideration of other 
compelling national and local threats that CBP must consider.
  Unfortunately, this is just another example of an overly restrictive 
policy that unnecessarily ties the administration's hands when working 
to protect the American people. I must respectfully oppose this 
amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Armstrong).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Chair understands that amendment No. 2 will not 
be offered.


                  Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Biggs

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 4 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:

       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to pay the salary and expenses of the position of the 
     Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, occupied by 
     Alejandro Mayorkas.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, many people may not know this, but NBC News 
recently reported that more than 400 illegal aliens who are affiliates 
of ISIS were released into the United States under this 
administration's watch. They have caught some of them, but they still 
have a significant number of them out.
  Do you know what they said? Gee, if we could have enforced the law, 
we wouldn't have released them into the country, and we could have 
rounded them up and prevented them from ever getting into the country.
  The reason I bring that up is because I am speaking in support of my 
amendment, which prohibits the use of funds to pay the salary and the 
expenses of the position of the DHS Secretary.
  Who is the DHS Secretary? Who is this individual? It is the person 
who has been the architect of the open-border policy.
  I think one of my colleagues from Florida, who was on the floor here 
just a moment ago, said it is a fictional invasion. Really? It is 10 
million people in 2\1/2\, 3 years. They started setting records when? 
February 2021. They have set records every month since. Who is in 
charge of that? Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary.
  In fact, this body was so disenchanted with his policies that we 
impeached Secretary Mayorkas. When he was confronted with: Do you have 
operational control of the border? He said, in a Judiciary hearing, you 
know what, hey, we don't like that. First, he said, yes, we have 
operational control. We gave him the statute. Are you at operational 
control? Well, you know, we basically devised our own definition.
  That is the person who is occupying the Homeland Security chair right 
now, and they have incentivized literally millions of people to come 
into this country. That is the lawlessness that has brought people to 
their knees in many communities around this country.
  We are still trying to get information from the DHS and the 
Department of Defense about the terrorists who attempted to infiltrate 
Quantico just about 6 weeks ago.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.

[[Page H4185]]

  

  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this 
amendment.
  The Secretary of Homeland Security plays a critical role in our 
national security. Secretary Mayorkas has served in his role admirably 
and has been an honorable public servant for decades, including service 
as a U.S. attorney, the Director of USCIS, and the Deputy Secretary of 
Homeland Security.
  If my majority colleagues were sincere about addressing and ending 
the humanitarian crisis at the border, they would not have rejected the 
opportunity to even debate one of the toughest bipartisan border bills 
in history simply to appease the desires of those who wish to keep 
chaos at the border for political gain.
  When the President and Secretary Mayorkas requested additional 
resources to secure the border, my colleagues across the aisle ignored 
that, too. They even demanded that we ``take care of our own border 
first'' before we consider providing any funding to Ukraine and our 
other allies.
  My colleagues and I remain ready to address the challenges facing the 
Department of Homeland Security and to work toward building a modern 
immigration system that reflects the realities of the world we live in 
today and advances the best interests of American families, businesses, 
and communities.
  In addition, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that this 
amendment raises serious constitutional issues. Punishing the Secretary 
is not the way to handle policy disputes. Unfortunately, this amendment 
prioritizes legislative theater over the American people.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I get a kick when I hear Democrats say that the 
so-called bipartisan bill out of the Senate would have solved this 
problem. Do you know what that bill did? It granted amnesty. Do you 
know what it did? It set a floor of 2,500 illegal aliens every day who 
get to come in.
  Guess what else it did? They provided loophole after loophole. There 
is no limit on unaccompanied children, and hundreds of thousands have 
come in. They have misplaced over 100,000 now. They are just so 
irresponsible.
  We heard people talk about an ineffective and outdated policy. Do you 
know what worked? That ineffective and outdated policy. Do you know 
why? Because it secured the border.

  We had the most secure border in about, I don't know, our Nation's 
history under President Trump. When they came in, President Biden 
issued 93 EOs. Guess what? You have a mass invasion on the border.
  What is it called? They called it a useless border wall. Do you know 
who voted for that border wall originally? That is right, people like 
Hillary Clinton. They voted for that border wall. They don't want a 
border wall.
  I have on my phone images from the Tucson sector of people dressed in 
camo bringing drugs across interdicted just the other day. Do you know 
why they were going near the San Miguel gate, which I have taken 
colleagues to before? Because there is no fence. In Arizona, we largely 
have no fences.
  Here is the deal: This Homeland Security Secretary is the one who 
gave us this policy.
  I can say what I heard from these people. I can say what they said: 
ineffective, outdated policies. They said these people are legally 
entitled to refugee status.
  Under what law? Under international law. How about the first safe 
nation law? They are required to obey that. Guess what? That is what 
the U.S. law is, as well--the first safe harbor, the first safe state. 
That is where someone who wants refugee status comes in, but they are 
not seeking refugee status. They are seeking asylum.
  Do you know who sought asylum? The two outrageous murderers who just 
murdered that 12-year-old girl in Houston. They were released under 
asylum requests. They went and had the cartel cut off their ankle 
bracelets.
  That is what is happening. That is why this Secretary, this position, 
which we are defunding correctly under the Holman rule, should not be 
funded, Mr. Chairman.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona will 
be postponed.


                  Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Biggs

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 5 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. ___.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be made available to implement, administer, or otherwise 
     carry out the activities and policies described in the rule 
     entitled, ``Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility'', 
     published by the Secretary of Homeland Security on September 
     9, 2022.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, which 
prohibits funding from being used to implement the DHS 2022 rule that 
allows illegal aliens to receive more government subsidies.
  Under our immigration law, one ground of inadmissibility for aliens 
is if they are likely to become a public charge. That is in the 
statute. That is to say, if they are going to be a financial burden to 
the American people due to the likelihood that they will rely on public 
assistance programs, they are inadmissible.
  However, in 2022, the DHS weakened this rule by excluding a whole 
host of government benefit programs, including Medicaid.
  What does this mean?
  First, it gives the Biden administration more excuses to allow 
millions of illegal aliens into the country by doing away with one 
standard that would legally disqualify many people.
  Second, it allows the Biden administration to explicitly pay illegal 
aliens to be in the country with taxpayer dollars, which has always 
been their plan.
  Third, it creates a major pull factor or incentive for people who are 
thinking of crossing the border to actually cross the border illegally.
  There is evidence of this. Just talk to the people crossing the 
border. I have. I have gone down to the border many times. I take 
people with me, Members of Congress, all the time. When you ask people, 
they will say they heard the U.S. Government was going to pay them to 
be here--I have actually had people say this--and that they will take 
me where I want to go.
  Why wouldn't they say that? It is true.
  Can someone tell me any policy by this administration that 
discourages illegal aliens from entering the country? There is not one 
serious policy that actually deters immigration.
  This is why we must vote to end this open border DHS rule and stop 
giving Federal dollars to illegal aliens.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1215

  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, this is yet another cruel and inhumane 
attempt by the majority to penalize legal immigrants for accessing 
health benefits and other government services available to them.
  The amendment attempts to revert to a Trump-era public charge rule in 
2019 that temporarily disrupted a decades-long policy. The Trump-era 
rule faced several legal challenges, leading to injunctions and halts 
in its implementation and costing the taxpayers every time the 
administration attempted to defend it in court.
  The Biden administration's rule merely restores the historical 
understanding of a public charge back to

[[Page H4186]]

what had been in place for decades. Under the Biden administration 
rule, we align with decades-long policy that simply requires 
immigration officials to consider whether a noncitizen will become 
dependent on cash benefits. This is something I would imagine American 
taxpayers would like to know.
  Nonetheless, I think it is also important to point out that the idea 
that immigrants somehow harm our economy or are a net cost to taxpayers 
is false. For example, earlier this year, the Assistant Secretary for 
Planning and Evaluation within the Department of Health and Human 
Services published a report on the fiscal impact of refugees and 
asylees at the Federal, State, and local levels from 2005 to 2019.
  One of the key points of the study was this: The net fiscal impact of 
refugees and asylees was positive over the 15-year period at $123.8 
billion, billion with a b, meaning that refugees and asylees 
contributed more revenue than they cost in expenditures to the American 
taxpayers. Their net fiscal benefit to the Federal Government was 
estimated at $31.5 billion, and the net fiscal benefit to State and 
local governments was estimated at $92.3 billion.
  While I can't speak to the intentions behind the gentleman's 
amendment, I will note that this amendment won't even accomplish what 
my colleagues think it will. Since the Trump-era rule was rescinded, 
the effect of this amendment, if enacted, would be to simply revert 
back to the 1999 guidance, which is essentially the same as the current 
rule that is being implemented.
  This amendment is just another baseless waste of time that does 
nothing to advance the best interests of Americans. I will vote ``no,'' 
and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chairman, the Senate bill that my colleagues love so 
much didn't ever make it over here. It didn't make cloture twice in the 
Senate. My colleagues can continue to yell and scream, but we passed 
H.R. 2, which is laying over there in Chuck Schumer's lap, who is 
refusing to move it.
  Let's talk a little bit about this cruel and inhumane business. Do my 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle know what is cruel? How about 
for those who live in Yuma, Arizona, where the community has one 
hospital. There is one hospital. When there is an emergency, they don't 
have enough beds for you if you are a citizen because they are dealing 
with illegal aliens who have flooded that hospital.
  That is cruel and inhumane. Do my colleagues know what happens? They 
air evac citizens to Phoenix or San Diego. That is cruel and inhumane.
  Does the minority know what happens? Let's say a citizen is pregnant. 
That maternity ward has 10 beds in it at Yuma. Most of the time, it is 
filled with illegal aliens who have come in.
  We just heard a lot about money, about this benefit. There are others 
who assert the exact opposite. The one thing that we do know for sure 
that everybody agrees on, right and left, if my colleagues actually 
talk to people who know something: There are remittances well in excess 
of $100 billion a year that go out from illegal aliens in this country. 
It is a cash flow.
  If my colleagues talk to leaders from the Central American States or 
even representatives from Mexico, they are going to tell Members what 
the cash flow is that those remittances provide for them. In Mexico, it 
is the number two leading cash flow for them.
  They come here because these individuals are incentivized to come 
here, in part, because of the public charge that we allow them to be 
on. That is why this amendment is crucial. If someone who is in this 
country illegally should not be here and is receiving benefits, should 
they receive the more than 90 social welfare benefits that this 
country, the Federal Government, provides?
  This administration has loosened the number of those benefits that 
are available to illegal aliens. That should not happen. We have a 
public charge rule. If you come in legally, you can't get in, but my 
colleagues are wanting to say: Well, if you are here illegally, that is 
okay.
  Good grief. This is the statute. We are reverting to the statute that 
worked. That is why this amendment is critical.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mrs. Cammack

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 9 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. ___.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, 
     or enforce any major rule under subparagraph (A) of section 
     804(2) of title 5, United States Code.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentlewoman 
from Florida (Mrs. Cammack) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.
  Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment, 
which would restrict funds at the Department of Homeland Security from 
being used to finalize any rule or regulation that has an annual effect 
on the economy of $100 million or more. Some might know this language 
commonly as REINS, Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny.
  It is no secret that the regulatory agencies today are out of 
control. Under the Biden administration, we have seen hundreds of 
billions, with a b, of dollars in regulatory costs fall on the 
shoulders of average Americans without any input from their elected 
Representatives in Congress.
  My amendment seeks to restore congressional oversight and the 
people's voice over these regulations by requiring that any major rule 
proposed by these agencies must be approved by Congress, a/k/a the 
people's House, before they go into effect.
  By including my amendment in this bill, we restore Congress' Article 
I authorities by bringing significant regulatory decisions back to the 
body that is closest to the will of the people. We will no longer allow 
unelected, nameless, faceless bureaucrats to impose regulatory costs 
behind closed doors, but, rather, commit ourselves to open, transparent 
governance.
  We have already seen the Biden administration's outrageous border 
crisis having allowed more illegal immigrants into the country than the 
population of 43 U.S. States. Nearly 1,400 pounds of deadly fentanyl 
has been seized at the border in just a single month, and 367 known 
suspected terrorists on the international terrorist watch list have 
crossed the border under the Biden administration.
  This administration has waged war against the immigration system of 
the United States, and the results speak for themselves. It is a total 
failure. This commonsense amendment is a core part of our mission to 
reintroduce government accountability and to restore the elected 
Representatives' voice in the process.
  By requiring congressional approval for major regulations, this 
amendment forces a thorough examination of the potential costs and 
benefits of proposed rules. This scrutiny is to prevent regulatory 
overreach, ensuring that regulations are grounded in sound science, 
economic reasoning, and the overall well-being of the American people, 
regardless of political affiliation.
  Oftentimes, these regulations serve as a mechanism for agencies to 
sidestep congressional authority in crucial policy decisions. As the 
core legislative body, it is crucial for us to reaffirm our 
constitutional role and prevent any unwarranted expansion of regulatory 
powers.
  All in all, my amendment restores the people's voice in these 
significant Federal agency decisions that impact our everyday lives. 
Our Nation needs major regulatory reform, and incorporating our 
amendment is a crucial step forward to a more transparent and 
accountable government for all Americans.
  I encourage and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
measure and standing up for our strongly held belief in a democratic 
government by

[[Page H4187]]

the people, for the people, in our constitutional Republic.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, the Department of Homeland Security does 
not engage in rulemaking behind closed doors. There is a rulemaking 
process that involves the public. In fact, it was established by 
Congress, and it has existed for decades.
  The amendment would prohibit DHS and its agencies from issuing major 
rules that are needed in order to implement and carry out laws enacted 
by Congress. Unfortunately, this is just another example of a bad 
policy rider aimed at unnecessarily tying the administration's hands.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to do 
the same.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time is 
remaining.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida has 2 minutes 
remaining.
  Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Chairman, in response to the notion that there is 
actually someone over there in the basement of these Federal agencies 
listening to the American people who weigh in via comment on these 
proposed rules and regulations, that is laughable.
  In some cases, we have seen agencies take in more than 250,000 
comments, different letters, and petitions from concerned citizens, 
associations, and organizations. They have fallen on deaf ears.
  In the case of DHS, they have worked tirelessly to put things up for 
a proposed rule, things like asylum eligibility and public health. One 
would think that Members of the people's House would be the ones in 
charge of dictating asylum process. One would think that it would be 
Members of Congress who would actually be looking to develop 
legislation that would cover the modernization of H-2A programs or 
refugee appearances and interviews or the modernization regulations of 
nonimmigrant workers.
  I could provide hundreds of examples of different proposed rules and 
regulations that have bypassed Congress, bypassed the people's House, 
and effectively silenced the American people's voice because we now 
have unelected, nameless, faceless bureaucrats and a hyperpoliticized 
administration shoving their political agenda down our throat.
  If we are going to restore our Article I authority, it starts here, 
and it starts now. I encourage all of my colleagues to adopt this 
amendment. It is common sense. It is good for all parties involved. I 
don't care what side of the aisle you are on. The facts are exactly the 
same.
  We are elected Representatives for the people and by the people. We 
need their voice here now more than ever.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Chairman 
Cole, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chair, the gentleman from North Dakota 
was here talking about what was happening in his State. I suggest for 
our colleagues to please take a look at the aftermath of what having 
open borders is doing to our country.
  When we look at the significance of not watching our borders, not 
guarding our borders, not paying attention to our borders, and totally 
ignoring the fact that these things really exist as opposed to, No, 
move on, there is nothing to see here, this legislation provides an 
increase in funding for the Customs and Border Protection, which will 
allow them to more effectively do their job. This bill addresses the 
concerns of the often overlooked northern border.
  A lot of people say: I don't know why you are concerned about the 
northern border.
  I say: Well, here is a little insight. It is 5,525 miles. It is the 
longest border between two countries in the world. It is virtually 
unwatched. That is not the fault of the Customs and Border Protection 
people. They are overworked, underpaid, and very much underappreciated.
  In fiscal year 2022, U.S. Border Patrol agents had 2,238 encounters 
at the northern border. In fiscal year 2023, that number more than 
quadrupled to 10,021 encounters. Through the first 7 months of fiscal 
year 2024, they have already encountered 9,460 individuals. As the 
summer months continue, that number will continue to skyrocket.
  If Members can understand that statement, coming in the northern 
border during winter is not a good idea. The weather itself is the 
biggest inhibitor of that. However, it is very porous, it is very open, 
it is very unwatched, and it is very concerning, and should be, to the 
American people.

                              {time}  1230

  The amazement I have, and this is not about Republicans versus 
Democrats, this is people coming to represent their district in their 
part of this incredible country.
  This is not a Republican issue. This is not a Democrat issue. This is 
an issue about who is it that enforces these laws that are already on 
the books.
  When we go home, I hear all the time, you guys better do something 
about what is happening at the borders. My question always back to them 
is: Do you know how many laws we have already passed? They say: No, I 
have no idea. I say: Well, it is the enforcement of the laws that have 
been passed through the legislature that are going unwatched right now.
  We can continue down this road and say: Move on, there is nothing to 
see here. There is nothing going on. There is really not a problem at 
the southern border. There is really not a problem at the northern 
border.
  In the meantime, the recipients of these illegals are the States that 
they end up in. When you hear about what our citizens are being denied 
because of taxpayer dollars being spent on a group--while we welcome 
the world to come to America, if your first act upon entering America 
is to break one of our laws, that is not a good way to start.
  When we look at what appropriations is doing, all we are asking for 
and all we are looking for is funding to protect our own borders.
  It is incredible to me that we have to have debate over what is 
actually taking place.
  One side says: We have a lot of concerns about this. The other side 
says: I don't know what you are concerned about. The problem doesn't 
exist.
  It does exist. It is real. The effect on America is long-lasting, and 
I don't know what the number is. I have heard it is 10,000, 11,000, 
12,000. Most people say: I don't know how many there are, but there are 
quite a few. The aftermath is the key.
  When we were in North Dakota, we listened to two sheriffs who were 
exhausted because they don't have enough people to watch what is going 
on in their State. It is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that they are 
concerned about what is happening.
  Now, who is the problem? Where is the problem? How do we fix the 
problem?
  We use taxpayer money virtually everywhere to protect our country. 
That is the first obligation of the Federal Government to protect the 
homeland. However, if you don't admit, or if you don't acknowledge that 
it is taking place, then you can't fix it.
  The idea is, if you are going to invest taxpayer dollars, give them a 
return on that investment. Make sure that we are protecting our very 
own people first. I welcome people coming to this country because that 
is how my family got here. They came in the right way, and they 
participated.
  We have an incredible dilemma going on right now, and I want people 
to think about this: 5,525 miles of border that is virtually 
unprotected. People talked about the balloon from China that came in. I 
love the way the administration addressed it. They let it come down 
through Canada, come down through our country, and when it exited out 
into the Atlantic Ocean, we

[[Page H4188]]

shot it down there. That is marvelous, but that is too late.
  Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from Nevada for allowing me to speak 
on this. I would hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle 
acknowledge what is happening and understand that our first oath of 
office is to protect the homeland.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.


                 Amendment No. 11 Offered by Mr. Clyde

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 11 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 43, line 11, strike the first dollar amount and insert 
     ``$2,379,485,000''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Clyde) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
  Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, today, I am offering an amendment to flat fund 
the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure 
Security Agency, also known as CISA, to keep it at the FY24 enacted 
level saving $57.8 million.
  On CISA's website, the mission reads: ``We lead the national effort 
to understand, manage, and reduce risk to our cyber and physical 
infrastructure.'' Unfortunately, CISA has strayed far from this 
mission.
  Two years ago, CISA was part of the infamous Disinformation 
Governance Board, which was established at the Department of Homeland 
Security to censor Americans' free speech.
  While the so-called Disinformation Governance Board was rightfully 
disbanded a few months later after enormous public outcry, many will be 
shocked to learn that CISA has not stopped monitoring and censoring 
Americans' free speech.
  According to a 2022 news report: CISA drafted plans to target 
``inaccurate information'' on a wide range of topics, including the 
origins of COVID-19, the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, racial 
justice, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the nature of U.S. 
support to Ukraine.
  Also, business records released by Twitter suggest that CISA 
distorted its mission from protecting the Nation's critical cyber and 
physical infrastructure into controlling what Americans can say and 
what speech is acceptable online.
  This is terrible. Americans' First Amendment should not be regulated 
or controlled through government by proxy censorship.
  CISA was first created before my arrival in Congress with bipartisan 
support. Under the Trump administration, CISA focused on foreign 
disinformation and countering foreign influence. Unfortunately, since 
the current administration took office, CISA has aggressively shifted 
beyond the original mandate of countering foreign threats.
  In January 2021, CISA officials renamed the Countering Foreign 
Influence Task Force, one of the key bodies of countering 
disinformation founded during the Trump administration, to the ``mis-, 
dis-, and malinformation team,'' meaning they took the word ``foreign'' 
out of the title.
  Last summer, the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the 
Federal Government released a report, titled: ``The Weaponization of 
CISA: How a `Cybersecurity' Agency Colluded With Big Tech and 
`Disinformation' Partners to Censor Americans.''
  Several disturbing details about CISA were released in this report, 
including that CISA is ``working with Federal partners to mature a 
whole-of-government approach'' to curb alleged misinformation and 
disinformation and that CISA wanted to use the same taxpayer-funded 
nonprofits as its mouthpiece to ``avoid the appearance of government 
propaganda.'' This is simply censorship by proxy.
  Last week, I had a conversation with the Director of CISA, and she 
told me that this report by the Select Subcommittee on Weaponization of 
the Federal Government is full of inaccuracies. Basically, it is not 
worth the paper it is written on. I strongly disagree. I think our 
Weaponization Subcommittee has done a phenomenal job.
  CISA needs to return to its original mission of strengthening and 
protecting our national cybersecurity and infrastructure, not censoring 
Americans' free speech. CISA's bloated budget and the agency's 
increased weaponization mission to police free speech has gone on 
simultaneously.
  There is a clear connection: Given extraordinary increases in 
funding, CISA has used taxpayer dollars to censor Americans and target 
speech that they find disagreeable. Therefore, I offer an amendment to 
flat fund CISA to maintain the FY24 enacted level. This agency must be 
refocused on their true mission, not given more funding to continue 
undermining our constitutional rights.
  The only thing that gets agency attention in Washington, D.C., is 
funding. By flat funding CISA for FY25 it is simply putting them on 
notice, a shot across the bow would be the Navy way of saying it, to 
get their attention and cease the weaponization of this agency.
  Mr. Chair, I hope that all Members of this committee will support 
this amendment to correct this weaponized agency and thereby defend our 
First Amendment rights for all Americans.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Nevada is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. 
Underwood), my colleague.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I join my friend, the chairman of the 
Homeland Security Subcommittee in shared opposition to this amendment.
  Instead of discussing cuts to our cybersecurity agency, also known as 
CISA, we should actually be discussing investing more. We cannot 
continue to play these political games. We don't have the luxury of 
doing that if we want to be serious about staying ahead of our foreign 
adversaries. Given what we know, we should be serious.
  We have all been warned about the clear intentions of the People's 
Republic of China, that it considers every sector that makes our 
society run fair game in its bid to dominate on the world stage.
  The FBI Director told us that PRC's plan is to land low blows against 
civilian infrastructure to try and induce panic and break America's 
will to resist.
  They are not alone in their plans to use cyber and other capabilities 
to threaten our national security, our economy, and, frankly, our way 
of life.
  Now, I assure you, our adversaries are not holding back on their 
investments and they are not playing by the same rules. We have, 
unfortunately, already seen their capabilities and the kind of 
disruptions and destruction they intend to cause to the United States 
and our allies.

  It is really unspeakable that we are having a debate right now about 
cutting our premier cyber defense capabilities. Now is not the time to 
reduce our ability to defend our Nation's cybersecurity posture. We 
should be investing in it.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment and urge my colleagues to do the 
same.
  Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Georgia has 1 minute remaining.
  Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, first, I commend the chairman here of our 
Appropriations Subcommittee.
  On sections 544 and 545 of this bill, I think it is critically 
important to prohibit the funding to classify or facilitate the 
classification of any communications by a United States person as mis-, 
dis-, or malinformation. I think, though we put the policy in the bill, 
it is the funding that gets agency attention, as I have mentioned 
before.
  I think it is critically important to ensure that the funding that we 
have sends that signal to CISA that they cannot abridge Americans' 
First Amendment rights through modifying what people can see by 
classifying information.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time
  Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Nevada has 3\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.

[[Page H4189]]

  

  Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Chair, here is a little history, and you can use it 
however you like.
  In the 2024 appropriations bill, we cut CISA $15 million, and it was 
because of this switchboarding issue. I agree that sometimes you want 
to get somebody's attention. Appropriations is money. That was done 
this last time.
  As we look at what this agency has been doing since then--and I 
appreciate the history. The history is strong and warrants attention, 
and I think we dealt with that the last time. Oversight is an ongoing 
and continuing thing. When I sit here and look at this and say: We are 
going to flat fund them. That is the proposal. I say: Well, how are you 
going to do that? Where is that funding going to come from?
  Just the standard, there you go, you are flat funded, at a time when 
their mission domestically in terms of infrastructure, whether that is 
utilities, communications or any number of things--I mean, in the 
media, it is like if you are going to buy a car, somebody hacked the 
outfit that does all that cyber stuff to make it easier to do. If you 
are going to go to a casino, those folks have been hacked.
  The mission is growing. You say: Well, who is the mission? What is 
that about? That is not about our friends, Mr. Chair. That is about 
folks who do not wish us well, so Russians, Chinese, all that other 
sort of stuff.
  I would be more comfortable with this if there was a trigger saying, 
if we fund that and you do this, we are going to come and get some 
money. I would be more comfortable with this if it were like: Here is 
where you are going to take it from. It is a funny time to be telling 
the folks who are in charge of cybersecurity in the non-DOD sectors: We 
are going to flat fund you. I do not believe that money is the answer 
to every problem that we come across. This mission has never been more 
challenging.
  I think the oversight has been good under this Director, and quite 
frankly, from recent history they are headed the right way. It doesn't 
mean you take your eyes off of them. To go back and say you are flat 
funded, quite frankly, I think it is a curious time.
  Mr. Chair, reluctantly, I don't support the amendment, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1245

  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia will 
be postponed.


                Amendment No. 12 Offered by Mr. Feenstra

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 12 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. FEENSTRA. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 2, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Iowa (Mr. Feenstra) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Iowa.
  Mr. FEENSTRA. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to 
the Homeland Security appropriations bill.
  President Biden has overseen the worst border crisis in our Nation's 
history. Since the beginning of his administration, nearly 8 million 
illegal immigrants have crossed over our southern border with 2 million 
evading capture from Border Patrol.
  Even known terrorists and drugs have come through this wide-open 
border, but this didn't happen by accident.
  The administration's policies have created this crisis by failing to 
enforce our laws, not holding drug traffickers accountable for their 
crimes, and not finishing the wall.
  This amendment exposes this administration's refusal to build the 
wall and secure our border. It directs the Department of Homeland 
Security to use the money confiscated from the drug cartels to build 
the border wall and protect our communities.
  The cartels do not deserve to keep a single penny of the money they 
have made smuggling deadly drugs that are coming into our communities. 
They deserve jail time for their crimes.
  I urge my colleagues to support my amendment because the American 
people deserve secure borders and safe communities, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, we don't even need to discuss the 
reasons why wasting funds on additional miles of wall is a bad idea.
  The amendment does nothing but make an ill attempt to invest in an 
ineffective and costly response to the challenges we are facing at the 
border.
  Furthermore, it also calls on the DHS Secretary to take action 
regarding the use of funds that Congress has already determined he does 
not control.
  While CBP is the primary agency responsible for the seizure of these 
assets at the border, the proceeds typically go into the Treasury 
forfeiture fund, which is managed by the Treasury Department.
  The allowable uses of these funds are defined in law, and there is an 
established process for which the Secretary of Homeland Security can 
make requests of the Treasury Secretary for a portion of these funds.
  A significant portion of the proceeds are necessary for the agencies 
responsible for storing and maintaining seized and forfeited assets and 
a series of other mandatory requirements.
  Requiring that all of the funds seized at the southern border be used 
for an ineffective, outdated border wall would create a problem with 
the execution of the fund, causing it to quickly become insolvent.
  I oppose this amendment, I urge my colleagues to do the same, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FEENSTRA. Mr. Chair, this amendment is not controversial. It is 
actually a very commonsense amendment. We are seizing drugs from the 
cartels, and we are using money that is also seized from the cartels to 
build the wall.
  We need to build the wall to secure our border. We should have the 
criminals that are endangering our communities help pay for this 
project. It is very simple.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Feenstra).
  The amendment was agreed to.


      Amendment No. 14 Offered by Mr.  Robert Garcia of California

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 14 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at 
the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 12, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $600,000,000)''.
       Page 12, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $600,000,000)''.
       Page 12, line 20 after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $100,000,000)''.
       Page 13, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $100,000,000)''.
       Page 24, line 17, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $600,000,000)''.
       Page 24, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $600,000,000)''.
       Page 44, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $700,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from California (Mr.  Robert Garcia) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to defund 
Donald Trump's ineffective and harmful border wall and to restore the 
critical funding, which actually helps immigrants in our country.
  This is also very personal to me. I immigrated to this country as a 
small child, and I love our country for all it has provided me and my 
family. The

[[Page H4190]]

day I raised my right hand and swore an oath to become a citizen was 
the proudest day of my life.
  We know that immigrants love this country. In fact, some of the most 
patriotic people in this country are immigrants. We know that 
immigrants make our communities stronger and safer.
  We should all be able to agree that we need an orderly process at the 
border. Democrats and Republicans can agree. We need a process where 
people with real asylum needs are protected and funded.
  We also need legal pathways to provide an orderly system for people 
who want to come here and build better lives.
  I thank President Biden on his recent executive order to keep 500,000 
families together by allowing members that are undocumented to marry 
their American citizen husbands and wives. That is real leadership and 
real progress on this issue.
  Democrats can agree that we need border security, but that actually 
comes from technology, smart strategies, and giving Border Patrol 
agents what they need, not from a pointless wall that we know does not 
work.
  Here are some facts: If you come here to the U.S. and make a 
legitimate asylum claim, you have a right to stay here while your claim 
is being heard. My colleagues in the majority may not like this, but it 
is actually the law of the United States.
  While you wait for your claim to be heard, you may also need some 
help, and we know people that come here are oftentimes vulnerable. They 
are sick. They are hungry. They are fleeing persecution. What happened 
to being a good human being and helping people and doing the most that 
we can?
  Communities and nonprofits that provide shelter and aid are key 
partners to border security, and they let our border agencies focus on 
actually keeping us safe. Republicans want to defund local governments 
and nonprofits.
  This bill ignores even what the Gospel teaches us. It ignores that 
our brothers and sisters who are tired, poor, hungry, and sick should 
not be left behind but helped and given some type of love and support.
  If this Republican bill were to become law, it would cause chaos and 
suffering in border communities and interior cities across our Nation.
  Before coming to Congress, I was the mayor of Long Beach for 8 years. 
We actually sheltered over 1,500 migrant children in our convention 
center, and I know firsthand how important it is for local 
organizations and local cities to get support.
  I am offering this amendment to restore $700 million in funding to 
local governments and nonprofit organizations by eliminating the 
unnecessary border wall and deportation funding increases.
  Wasn't Mexico supposed to pay for the wall? Isn't that what the 
former President kept claiming? Yet, it keeps being repeated by the 
majority that they want to continue to fund something that doesn't work 
and was supposed to be paid for by Mexico.
  Instead, we should be investing in organizations like Catholic 
Charities, The Salvation Army, and the United Way.
  Please don't defund Catholic Charities, don't defund our cities, and 
vote for our amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Nevada is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Chair, the Shelter and Services Program is a failed 
program. It does nothing but facilitate the administration's self-
created policy crisis on our border.
  It is interesting to hear the discussions in terms of now that they 
are here, we should do something and skip over the whole issue of what 
has happened in the last 36 months?
  It is undeniable that the numbers are significantly larger. Once you 
are here, we have to focus on what we do.
  When you look at shelter services, we are renting tents. By the way, 
it is a single vendor. It is not even put out for bid. We spend over a 
billion something a year just for tents.
  While it is nice to talk about how we should be good stewards of 
whoever happens to show up, to ignore how they came to be here in such 
massive numbers in the last 36 months, to me, it is a bit--and you can 
fill in the blank.
  What began as a $30 million effort has ballooned to a $650 million 
grab bag for nongovernmental organizations to swiftly resettle migrants 
across the border illegally into our country.
  Even large city Democrat mayors are screaming: We can't sustain this. 
We should not be spending money on programs that incentivize illegal 
immigration.
  This amendment would directly undercut border security by reducing 
funds for border wall construction by $600 million.
  The men and women in the field have told us walls work, and it is 
time for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to accept that 
fact.
  This amendment would also cut immigration enforcement efforts by $100 
million. Somebody earlier said: Hey, we are turning our backs on Border 
Patrol. Really? A hundred million bucks is a pretty good look at 
somebody's back.
  That significantly reduces our ability to remove these migrants that 
no longer have a legal basis to remain in the country.

  Remember the backlog that requires over a million dollars to get 
folks who have failed the test for claiming asylum.
  By the way, there are those who pose a risk. I won't repeat what 
other people have and will talk about. Instead of allowing this 
administration to continue to positively manage the unmitigated flow of 
migrants entering our country without consequence, this bill proposes 
funding and policies that address the crisis by empowering Federal 
agents and officers to do their jobs and not spend money on folks that 
enable a political agenda of this administration. I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood).
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment. The 
Shelter and Services Program is incredibly important to communities 
across the country, including mine, Illinois' 14th District.
  We all must realize that the flow of migration doesn't just impact 
communities at the border. It can be felt across the country, including 
in my home State of Illinois.
  Eliminating the Shelter and Services Program will not stop migration. 
This funding provides States, cities, and nonprofits with the resources 
they need to provide temporary aid to new migrant arrivals.
  As people come to our country legally seeking a better life, we 
cannot ignore their humanitarian needs. Last year, we were successful 
in providing $650 million for the Shelter and Services Program, but we 
know the needs of our communities go far beyond what we provided last 
year and even what this amendment provides.
  However, I am grateful for the gentleman's amendment because it is an 
important starting point, and it provides a strong foundation for 
future discussions.
  It is no secret that we need to overhaul our immigration system and 
that there appears to be bipartisan agreement on that. Until then, we 
must provide our communities with the resources they need to manage the 
surge now.
  Reducing funding for a ridiculous border wall and ICE transportation 
funding to pay for this program makes sense.
  We need to move away from expensive, ineffective, and outdated 
solutions that do not address the migration challenges we are 
experiencing today.
  I urge support for this amendment, and I look forward to increasing 
this funding for the Shelter and Services Program in our final enacted 
bill.
  Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Chairman, clearly, this is one of the differences 
between the two sides of the aisle.
  This amendment is a double whammy. It weakens the border through lack 
of physical investment, physical improvement, and capital improvement.
  I agree with what my colleague from Illinois said. They can't handle 
it with the present levels of funding with what is coming across the 
border. The last thing we need to do is try to put more money into 
dealing with self-imposed impacts that are avoidable.

[[Page H4191]]

  I urge opposition to the amendment, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr.  Robert Garcia).
  The amendment was rejected.

                              {time}  1300

  The Acting CHAIR. The Chair understands that amendment No. 15 will 
not be offered.


           Amendment No. 18 Offered by Ms. Greene of Georgia

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 18 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  The salary of Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of 
     Homeland Security, shall be reduced to $1.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentlewoman 
from Georgia (Ms. Greene) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Georgia.
  Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, my amendment would effectively fire 
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of Homeland Security for the 
atrocious job that he is doing with our southern border and the overall 
security of our Nation.
  Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed my Articles of 
Impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas, making him the first Cabinet 
Secretary to be impeached since 1876. If the House impeached Secretary 
Mayorkas, we should certainly not pay him.
  Here are some real-life consequences of Alejandro Mayorkas's 
failures.
  Rachel Morin, a mother of five from Maryland, was brutally raped and 
murdered by an illegal alien from El Salvador, who Mayorkas allowed to 
enter our country as a got-away.
  A 13-year-old girl in New York City was violently raped at knifepoint 
and kidnapped in broad daylight by a vicious illegal from Ecuador. He 
is a monster who was previously caught crossing the border with a 3-
year-old child on his back in 2021, and then he was released into the 
United States of America under Secretary Mayorkas.
  Jocelyn Nungaray, 12 years old, was strangled to death and dumped in 
a creek in Houston, Texas, by two illegals from Venezuela, who were 
released under Secretary Mayorkas earlier this year.
  I can't understand and comprehend why my colleagues across the aisle 
want to keep this going. This child was 12 years old.
  Kayla Marie Hamilton, 20 years old, was raped and strangled to death 
by an illegal MS-13 gang member who was apprehended but subsequently 
released under Mayorkas. By the way, he was covered in gang tattoos. 
They knew exactly what he was, but under the leadership of Secretary 
Mayorkas, these monsters get released into our country.
  Laken Riley, 22, was brutally kidnapped and murdered by an animal 
from Venezuela, who was released into our communities under Secretary 
Mayorkas and not prosecuted in the justice system in the State of New 
York.
  No more Americans should have to die because Secretary Mayorkas 
refuses to enforce the laws of our country. Secretary Mayorkas' 
policies are escorting murderers, rapists, criminal trespassers, gang 
members, and terrorists into American communities.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this 
amendment.
  The Secretary of Homeland Security plays a critical role in our 
national security. Secretary Mayorkas has served in his role admirably 
and has been an honorable public servant for decades, including service 
as a U.S. attorney, the Director of USCIS, and the Deputy Secretary of 
Homeland Security.
  If my majority colleagues were sincere about addressing and ending 
the humanitarian crisis at the border, they would not have rejected the 
opportunity to even debate one of the toughest bipartisan border bills 
in history simply to appease the desires of those who wish to keep 
chaos on the border for political gain.
  When the President and Secretary Mayorkas requested additional 
resources to secure the border, my colleagues across the aisle ignored 
that, too--even after they demanded that we take care of our own border 
first before we consider providing any funding to Ukraine and our other 
allies.
  My colleagues and I remain ready to address the challenges facing the 
Department of Homeland Security and to work toward building a modern 
immigration system that reflects the realities of the world we live in 
today and advances the best interests of American families, businesses, 
and communities.
  In addition, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that this 
amendment raises serious constitutional issues. Punishing the Secretary 
is not the way to handle policy disputes. Unfortunately, this amendment 
prioritizes legislative theater over the American people.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, may I inquire how much time I have 
remaining.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman has 2 minutes remaining.
  Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, my colleague across the aisle talks 
about Secretary Mayorkas and his so-called critical role in our 
Nation's security, yet Secretary Mayorkas has allowed over 360 
individuals on the terrorist watch list to be caught while illegally 
crossing the southern border between ports of entry. We have no idea 
how many terrorists are in the interior of our country. Two million 
that we know of have gotten away. How many of the 2 million are 
terrorists?
  He has enabled a 7,000 percent increase in illegal crossings of 
Chinese nationals ever since 2021 when he took the job.
  His open border is allowing fentanyl to pour into our communities, 
which is killing 300 Americans every single day.
  I would argue the Ukraine war is not murdering any Americans, yet 
this House of Representatives and the people in Washington are obsessed 
with using American taxpayer dollars to fund that war while fully 
ignoring the war on our southern border.
  According to the Georgia Narcotics Association, approximately 7 out 
of 10 pills on the street are laced with fentanyl coming across the 
southern border, yet my colleague across the aisle says that we are 
ignoring the humanitarian crisis at the southern border.
  What this government, this administration, and Secretary Mayorkas are 
doing is ignoring the humanitarian crisis all across our country. 
Fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction that is murdering Americans. 
That should be the issue this House cares about.
  Secretary Mayorkas' policies have killed Americans, bankrupted 
communities, overrun schools, besieged towns, drowned hospitals, and 
incapacitated law enforcement while empowering cartels and foreign 
entities.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Greene).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Georgia 
will be postponed.


           Amendment No. 19 Offered by Ms. Greene of Georgia

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 19 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:

[[Page H4192]]

       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used by the Department of Homeland Security to partner 
     with the Department of State to establish Safe Mobility 
     Offices.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentlewoman 
from Georgia (Ms. Greene) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Georgia.
  Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, my amendment prohibits the 
Department of Homeland Security from working with the State Department 
to establish something they call Safe Mobility Offices. As if 
legalizing and enabling the invasion of America is not enough, the 
Biden administration wants to create offices down in foreign countries 
to bring more people in in their foreign country and help them invade 
the United States, and they want the American taxpayer to pay for it. 
It is unbelievable.
  Secretary Mayorkas is not only allowing illegals to invade our 
country, but he is also actively importing these terrorists and rapists 
into our country through the establishment--taxpayer-funded, by the 
way--of Safe Mobility Offices.
  In a recent ABC interview, Mayorkas bragged about this fact, stating: 
``We have built Safe Mobility Offices in Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, 
Costa Rica to reach people where they are so they don't have to take 
the perilous journey.''
  I can't even believe this is a real thing. He is not discouraging or 
preventing these illegals from invading our borders. He is showing them 
how to do it, and he is making it easier for them to come by 
establishing offices in those foreign countries, bringing them in, and 
telling them how to come to the United States.
  According to the State Department, the Safe Mobility initiative is 
one of the many ways the United States is facilitating access to safe 
and lawful pathways from partner countries in the region, at no cost to 
them, so refugees and vulnerable migrants don't have to undertake 
dangerous journeys in search of safety and better opportunities.
  I bet Americans would love to feel safe. I bet Americans who have 
lost children and family members to illegal alien crime, rape, and 
murder would love for their family members to be safe and their dead 
family members to have better opportunities. No, the Biden 
administration won't allow it. They have to open up offices to bring in 
more people.
  Once aliens apply, experts from international organizations help 
individuals assess which legal pathways might work for them. If the 
individual qualifies for resettlement into the United States, which, 
according to the Biden administration, everybody gets resettlement into 
the United States, they get a bus ticket, a plane ticket, or a train 
ticket to any of the 50 States that they want. Then, the individual 
will undergo expedited refugee processing under the Safe Mobility 
initiative.
  So our taxpayers are paying for offices in these foreign countries to 
recruit people to come to our country and be expedited in at the cost 
of the American people. This is outrageous, infuriating, embarrassing, 
and pathetic.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Illinois 
for 5 minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, Safe Mobility Offices are strategically 
situated in Central and South America and intended to be an alternative 
way for individuals to seek lawful pathways to the United States other 
than the dangerous journey that many migrants resort to in an effort to 
flee from persecution or dangerous conditions.
  They are good, commonsense policies. My colleague across the aisle 
may be interested to know that these offices are also a useful tool in 
combating illegal border crossings.
  Globally, we are facing the greatest displacement of people since 
World War II. That is why these offices are also in partnership with 
Canada and Spain.
  Let's talk about the effect this amendment would actually have on the 
Department of Homeland Security. Taking away options for lawful 
pathways only further burdens Border Patrol and Customs and Border 
Protection with more encounters.
  These Safe Mobility Offices enhance our security posture because they 
allow the vetting of individuals before they ever set foot on U.S. 
soil.
  It also takes money out of the cartels' pockets because it prevents 
individuals from paying smugglers and coyotes thousands of dollars to 
get them through our borders.
  Finally, it takes the burden off of our already jammed immigration 
courts that are managing over 3 million cases and counting.
  I hear so often my colleagues on the other side of the aisle complain 
about the chaos at the border, yet when the administration comes up 
with innovative solutions that aim to establish a more orderly, 
efficient, and less chaotic border environment, it is met with 
resistance, as demonstrated by amendments like this one that we are 
debating today.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Chair, talk about burdening Border Patrol, 
we can talk about the over 12 million illegal aliens that have flooded 
into our country ever since Joe Biden took office, all under the 
direction of Secretary Mayorkas. Yes, that has definitely burdened 
Border Patrol.
  Talk about innovative solutions, I think we could call it innovative 
if you are talking about completely invading the United States of 
America by the Biden administration and Secretary Mayorkas. His 
creative idea of an innovative solution is to open offices in foreign 
countries to recruit people to come to the United States and be 
expedited wherever they want to go.
  This is a slap in the face of every single American. It is a complete 
embarrassment. It is outrageous. Our Nation is over $34.5 trillion in 
debt right now, and Democrats want to open up and spend money to open 
up more offices to bring more people in? My colleague talks about 
overwhelming Border Patrol. This is overwhelming the American people.
  Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues in the House to pass my 
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Greene).
  The amendment was agreed to.

                              {time}  1315


                Amendment No. 20 Offered by Mr. Grothman

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 20 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used for the parole program entitled ``Processes for 
     Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Amendment No. 20 seeks to address an often underdiscussed part of the 
ongoing border crisis: the surge in illegal immigration from Cuba, 
Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Recent years have witnessed an 
unprecedented increase in the number of migrants from these four 
countries attempting to cross our southwest border.
  In fiscal year 2020, Border Patrol agents apprehended about 17,500 
illegal entrants from these nations. That was the final year before 
President Biden. This number surged more than tenfold in fiscal year 
2021 to 181,000 and skyrocketed to over 600,000 in fiscal year 2022. 
From 17,000 to 600,000, these numbers are common in the increase during 
this administration. Understanding the factors behind this dramatic 
rise is crucial to understanding the challenges it poses.
  The Biden administration's approach to border security has played a 
significant role in this surge. Look no further

[[Page H4193]]

than the introduction of the CHNV parole process targeting nationals of 
Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
  Initially created as a limited parole program for Venezuelans, this 
program expanded significantly in January of 2023. Now it offers parole 
for up to 30,000 nationals per month from these countries. Remember, we 
used to have 17,000 in a whole year. Now it is 30,000 per month. This 
policy has led to a system of all carrots and no sticks, incentivizing 
illegal entries without adequate deterrents.
  Through the end of May, over 462,000 CHNV parolees have entered the 
U.S. This figure surpasses the current population of New Orleans just 
from these four countries and far exceeds the annual immigration limits 
set by Congress.
  Despite these parolees lacking visas or legal rights to enter, they 
have been granted work authorizations, potentially impacting the wages 
and working conditions of American workers.
  The administration claims that each CHNV applicant undergoes robust 
security vetting and requires a U.S.-based supporter. However, this 
system is ripe for exploitation, human trafficking, and fraud. 
Moreover, the security vetting process is insufficient, particularly 
given the limited cooperation from hostile governments and the lack of 
a stable government in Haiti.
  When I have been on the border, the only country they get criminal 
background checks from is Canada.
  My amendment is straightforward. None of the funds appropriated by 
this act can be used to run the CHNV parole program.
  Congress must act to correct these misguided policies, prioritize the 
enforcement of existing immigration laws, and ensure that our border 
security measures are both effective and humane.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, as a threshold matter, the underlying bill 
already includes a provision that would effectively end the current 
operation of the program referenced in this amendment.
  That is because applicants must use the CBP One mobile app from 
abroad to submit information that is then used to conduct background 
checks. The majority's bill already includes a harmful provision that 
prevents the use of the CBP One app to facilitate the parole of 
migrants into the United States.
  Setting aside the redundancy of this provision, it is worth spending 
a moment discussing the harmful impact of preventing this program to 
continue.
  The parole process in place for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and 
Venezuelans provides the Department an opportunity to provide an 
alternative to the dangerous journeys that many migrants resort to 
taking to flee from persecution and dangerous conditions. It also 
enhances our security posture because it allows the Department to vet 
people before they arrive. It has resulted in a significant reduction 
in the number of these individuals being encountered between ports of 
entry at our southern border, which helps with having a more orderly 
and less chaotic border environment.
  I really do wish my colleagues across the aisle, who talk all the 
time about wanting to secure the border, would start working with 
Democrats to provide DHS the resources it needs and stop trying to 
prevent it from executing programs that are actually working.
  Instead of ending programs that are reducing chaos at the border, we 
should be discussing how to build upon the successes of these efforts.
  Once again, this amendment has no chance of being enacted. I urge a 
``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Turner).
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Chair, I thank Congressman Grothman, my friend and 
colleague, for his leadership on this issue.
  I ask for strong support for this amendment which prohibits funding 
to be used for the parole program titled: ``Processes for Cubans, 
Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.''
  More than 10,000 Haitian migrants have settled in my congressional 
district in Springfield, Ohio, sent there by the Biden administration's 
unlawful use of the immigration parole program. I am going to say that 
again. More than 10,000 Haitians have settled in my congressional 
district in Springfield, Ohio.
  America is a Nation of immigrants, and Ohio has undoubtedly been 
enriched by those seeking the tremendous opportunities that our country 
has to offer. However, Biden's administration policies incentivize 
migrants to locate in the United States rapidly and in large 
numbers, moving to small and rural communities like in my district.

  You cannot find a city in this country that would be able to 
sufficiently handle this kind of surge. The city of Springfield is 
strained with infrastructure, housing, and schools all pushed to the 
limit.
  Last year, the community of Springfield formed an immigration 
accountability response team to address this unprecedented population 
explosion. These Biden policies are wrong and put these people and the 
city of Springfield in impossible circumstances.
  Mr. Chair, I urge strong support of this amendment.
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to support this 
amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman has the only time remaining.
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, the CHNV program is another example of this 
administration clearly violating the limits on parole established by 
Congress. None of the migrants being paroled into this Nation under 
this program have a legal basis to enter.
  Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to support this amendment, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin 
will be postponed.


               Amendment No. 29 Offered by Mr. McCormick

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 29 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 26, line 14, insert ``, including any barrier 
     constructed by a State government,'' after ``barriers''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. McCormick) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
  Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer my amendment No. 29 to H.R. 
8752, the fiscal year 2025 Homeland Security appropriations bill.
  My amendment would add language to section 212 of the bill to make 
sure that no Federal funds can be used to dismantle, demolish, remove, 
or damage barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border that are placed there by 
State governments.
  The crisis at our southern border has never been worse. Since 
President Biden took office, there have been easily over 9 million 
encounters nationwide and over 7.5 million at the southwest border 
specifically. There have been around 2 million known got-aways and over 
350 encounters with those on terrorist watch lists, massive numbers of 
aliens who are considered inadmissible by law entering our country, 
with about 400,000 from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela mass 
paroled into our country.
  We are willfully and knowingly allowing murderers, rapists, and spies 
into our country as a byproduct of the Biden administration's attempt 
to skew future elections. They do not care about the carnage and would 
literally be happy to be king of the ashes.

[[Page H4194]]

  The border crisis has also created a public health crisis. This 
fiscal year, there has been over 13,000 pounds of fentanyl seized. That 
is enough to kill billions of people. We have seen 110,000 people who 
have died from opioid overdoses. That is just what we stop, though, 
13,000 pounds.
  In the meantime, the President and his allies in Congress have said 
time and time again that nothing can be fixed without congressional 
action. I am all for congressional action. This body passed H.R. 2 over 
a year ago, a bill that would fix issues in the code by doing things 
like raising the standard for credible fear determinations and 
requiring most migrants to arrive at official ports of entry to have 
their asylum cases processed. Sadly, it is not surprising that this 
bill hasn't seen the light of day in the do-nothing Senate.
  Here is the other reality. Immigration law hasn't changed 
significantly in years. The border crisis was never this bad before. 
Under President Trump, and even under Presidents Clinton and Obama--as 
a matter of fact, Obama ran on border security, let that sink in--we 
didn't see the same absolute humanitarian crisis that is going on 
today. This is the fault of the current administration.
  In response to the negligence of this administration, Texas, under 
the leadership of Governor Abbott, started Operation Lone Star to 
secure the border. His plan included the placement of more than 100 
miles of razor wire along the border. What was the administration's 
response? To oppose Texas every step of the way and even go so far as 
to cut razor wire installed by Texans. This is completely unacceptable. 
It is an example of the administration starting a problem and then 
preventing anyone else from fixing it as Biden has done nothing to 
secure our sovereign border.
  My amendment would prevent this and guard the ability of Texas, 
Arizona, New Mexico, and other border States to protect their citizens 
and their border.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, the U.S. Constitution grants the Federal 
Government the sole authority to control immigration and secure the 
Nation's border. That includes determining who is allowed to enter the 
country and how the borders are to be secured. This is for a good 
reason. It is critical that we have uniformity and consistency in our 
immigration and border security policies across all States.
  The Federal Government protects our national interests while 
maintaining positive relationships with neighboring countries. With 
this amendment, we are placing Border Patrol in the unfortunate 
position of being unable to properly secure the border where a State 
independently constructs or allows the construction of border barriers, 
such as a wall or fencing.
  Furthermore, this amendment would impede CBP's ability to carry out 
its mission. CBP has indicated it would have challenges if this 
language were enacted.
  For example, this provision would present an extreme life and safety 
risk to asylum seekers and other migrants who may need to be rescued. 
Border Patrol agents and CBP air and marine officers regularly save 
migrants from drowning. Preventing the removal of concertina wire or 
other structures on the border will cause an increase in drowning 
deaths, which would further place our law enforcement officers and 
agents at risk.
  Mr. Chair, I will vote ``no,'' and I encourage my colleagues to do 
the same. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chair, I will quote the ``protects our national 
interests.'' That is the justification of removing barriers to illegal 
invaders; it protects Americans' interests. These are the same people 
who would do harm to our American citizens through fentanyl overdoses, 
rapes, murders, crime, and then consuming American resources at a time 
when we cannot afford it.

                              {time}  1330

  President Biden's executive order is too little too late. It won't 
fix the border crisis and would still give tacit legal permission to 
about 1 million illegal immigrants to enter every year. That is if he 
didn't tell agents to ignore his own guidance. Further Biden's latest 
legal action, amnesty for 500,000 illegal immigrants based on their 
marital status will encourage more immigrants to break the law and 
cross the border to do something else.
  This policy of the administration has shown that they aren't 
seriously attempting to secure the border and to solve this problem.
  In closing, Mr. Chair, my amendment would simply protect the State 
governments and allow them to secure their borders while the President 
refuses to do that.
  This is an 80 percent issue among the American public. This is an 
issue of We the People protecting our house.
  With the policies of this current administration, we, at the very 
least, must make sure we allow State governments to protect their 
citizens and protect their borders.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. McCormick).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 30 Offered by Mr. Molinaro

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 30 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 1, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 11, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Molinaro) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Chairman, my amendment is very simple. It is a 
modest increase to funding for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
Agency which will assist in ensuring our southern border is secure.
  There is little question that this administration has created a 
crisis at our border. Every State across America is facing the 
significant challenge of millions of undocumented individuals crossing 
into the country, in some cases even being transported to cities and 
States across America by this very administration.
  With that comes significant increases in human trafficking and the 
drug trade increases of fentanyl and synthetic opioids crossing the 
border, taking American lives, and devastating communities all across 
the country.
  My own State of New York, admittedly, through bad policy decisions of 
the mayor of New York City and the Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, 
has become a border State. Hundreds of thousands of individuals are 
being relocated to the State of New York all at the same time making an 
enormous crisis even worse.
  In our own State we have seen individuals transported from downstate 
to upstate all with the sanction and the incentivizing from this 
President and the administration.
  Every tool, every resource, and every additional dollar we can 
provide Customs and Border Patrol is critically necessary to not only 
securing our border but saving lives, as well.
  Congress needs to put forth greater focus and greater dollars, but at 
the same time this crisis was created by the President, and it is time 
that this crisis comes to an end.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, while I can support additional funding for 
DHS components in fiscal year 2025, I must respectfully oppose this 
amendment. We are debating increasing a multibillion dollar agency by a 
miniscule amount at the detriment of the Office of the Secretary which 
is consistently under attack by this majority.

[[Page H4195]]

  The Office of the Secretary and Executive Management has already been 
cut by 23 percent.
  Mr. Chair, I support the men and women of CBP, but let's not continue 
with these amendments to message the majority's opposition to the Biden 
administration on the backs of the other career public servants this 
amendment will undoubtedly impact.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, I urge my colleagues to do the 
same, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Chairman, I certainly wasn't going to take the 
dollars from Border Patrol to rededicate to Border Patrol, so it seemed 
quite clear to me that we ought to take it from the Office of the 
Secretary.
  If it were up to me, having served as an executive for 12 years, not 
only would I not have hired Secretary Mayorkas, I would have called for 
his resignation immediately. If it were up to me, I would eliminate him 
from the office as it is, but that is not a message.
  It is critically important we give the tools necessary to CBP to do 
its job. It is critically important that, in fact, we hold the 
administration accountable. It is critically important that Americans 
understand there is one side of the aisle that is actually fighting to 
secure the border, and we will continue to do so.
  Mr. Chair, I ask support for the amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Molinaro).
  The amendment was agreed to.


            Amendment No. 32 Offered by Mr. Moore of Alabama

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 32 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 14, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $50,000,000) (decreased by $50,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Alabama (Mr. Moore) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama.
  Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of amendment No. 32 that would 
express congressional opposition to TSA's use of facial recognition 
technology at American airports.
  Facial recognition technology encroaches on the privacy of American 
citizens. This gives the government unprecedented surveillance 
capabilities that can track a person's movements in real time.
  At a time when the government already conducts warrantless searches 
of our data through the FISA programs, we should not give our 
weaponized government another inch when it comes to mass surveillance, 
especially without a sophisticated system of checks and balances.
  TSA has expanded its facial recognition technology at American 
airports. While TSA states that the program is optional, it is the 
stated intent of the TSA to expand this technology beyond the security 
checkpoint and require that passengers undergo facial recognition scans 
every time they travel. Further, there are several airports that I have 
traveled to that do not have sufficient signage to alert passengers 
that they have the option to opt out of this intrusive technology.
  In April of 2023, TSA Administrator Pekoske admitted at the South by 
Southwest Conference that we will get to a point where we will require 
biometrics across the board.
  The potential for misuse of this technology extends far beyond 
airport security checkpoints. Once Americans become accustomed to 
government facial recognition scans, it will be that much easier for 
the government to scan citizens' faces everywhere, from entry into 
government buildings, to passive surveillance on public property like 
parks, schools, and sidewalks.
  This powerful surveillance technology as deployed by TSA does not 
make air travel safer. As a matter of fact, the 3 percent error rate 
cited by TSA represents more than 68,000 mismatches per day if used on 
all 2.2 million daily travelers.
  Recent news reports that hundreds of passengers have bypassed TSA 
security checkpoints entirely in recent years suggest that TSA should 
focus on the fundamentals, not expanding its facial recognition 
program.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, the use of facial recognition 
technology, which is still a fairly new capability, requires robust 
oversight and internal controls, including a privacy impact assessment 
by DHS's privacy office.
  I know that the Department of Homeland Security and TSA have been 
taking important steps in that direction, including departmentwide 
governance policies and allowing travelers going through TSA 
checkpoints to opt out of the use of this technology.
  More work needs to be done to address the potential for biases and 
inaccuracies in the facial recognition algorithms, particularly 
regarding their ability to accurately recognize individuals from 
different demographic groups, as well as ensuring that travelers are 
aware of their rights to opt out of the facial recognition screening 
process.
  However, I believe we should continue to lean in to address these 
challenges to ensure the appropriate protections and safeguards are in 
place while also embracing and investing in modern solutions that not 
only strengthen our security and expedite the traveler experience with 
DHS, but also improve the lives of everyday Americans.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague from 
Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley) for cosponsoring this amendment. I 
encourage my colleagues to support this effort, as well.
  In closing, Mr. Chairman, I encourage all Members and friends to 
support this important amendment, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Moore).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 37 Offered by Mr. Mullin

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 37 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 2, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $18,168,000)''.

       Page 43, line 24, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $18,168,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Mullin) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, America's Urban Search and Rescue teams are vital task 
forces that deserve adequate funding so they can continue to bring hope 
during our country's darkest hours.
  Deployed across the country whenever a major disaster strikes, these 
task forces have pulled victims out of the rubble after the World Trade 
Center collapsed, searched for those stranded in flooded homes during 
Hurricane Katrina, responded to raging wildfires in Maui, and answered 
the call to help with many other disasters across America and the 
world.
  These heroes have been there for our Nation when we have needed them 
the most. While we cannot forecast the next national emergency, 
Congress must proactively support the needs of these task forces so 
they may adequately prepare for the next moment they are called into 
action.
  That is why I am leading a bipartisan group of lawmakers with 
Representatives Young Kim from California and

[[Page H4196]]

Jill Tokuda from Hawaii to advocate for an $18 million increase in 
Federal funding for America's 28 Urban Search and Rescue task forces. 
This would prevent cuts to funding the task forces received in fiscal 
year 2024, and it would meet the actual expenses that local fire 
departments and other first responders have on the ground.
  Our proposal is also extremely modest. It represents just $2 million 
per task force. It is the least we can do to ensure emergency 
responders have the training and equipment they need when a disaster 
strikes.
  I am grateful to have their support and the support of task force 
leaders from across the country for this effort.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. KIM of California. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, 
even though I am not opposed to it.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Ogles). Without objection, the gentlewoman is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. KIM of California. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this 
bipartisan amendment to provide much-needed resources to the FEMA 
Operations and Support account for the National Urban Search and Rescue 
Response System, or US&R.
  This increase is offset by the management directorate for operations 
and support account.
  US&R has been critical in disaster response efforts in the aftermath 
of the major wildfires, hurricanes, and tropical storms across the 
country, including in California.
  We are reminded of the importance of this program as communities in 
our area face a scorching heat wave and a threat of devastating 
wildfires, and I am grateful to Orange County Fire Authority Chief 
Brian Fennessy's leadership as the Western representative for nine US&R 
task forces in our region.
  Unfortunately, costs associated with operating the task forces have 
increased with higher labor and equipment costs and more deployments. 
My amendment ensures US&R's task forces are equipped with the tools 
needed to protect our communities.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Mullin).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentlewoman 
from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), and I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island 
(Mr. Magaziner).
  Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  The most solemn duty that we have as Members of Congress is to keep 
Americans safe. Unfortunately, instead of focusing on the very real 
threats facing our homeland, too many House Republicans are playing 
politics trying to defund the FBI and the Department of Justice, 
refusing to take action on gun violence and cheerleading for violent 
extremists like those who attacked this Capitol and the people in it on 
January 6.
  They are putting their political agendas ahead of keeping everyday 
American people safe.

                              {time}  1345

  Let's not forget that it was House Republicans who killed the 
bipartisan plan to secure the border because Donald Trump told them he 
would rather have an issue to campaign on than fix the problem. 
Shameful.
  When asked to explain his opposition to the bipartisan border 
security bill, one House Republican even said, ``Let me tell you, I am 
not willing to do too damn much right now to help a Democrat and to 
help Joe Biden's approval rating,'' putting politics ahead of securing 
the border.
  This appropriations bill proposed by House Republicans cuts funding 
for regional counterterrorism efforts that keep Americans safe from 
both domestic and foreign terrorism and cuts all funding to help States 
and cities manage the impact of migration.
  I sit on the Homeland Security Committee, and I saw as House 
Republicans brought in officials from States and cities to talk about 
how difficult it is to deal with the challenges of migration in their 
communities. Guess what? If those State or city officials are watching 
now, this budget that the House Republicans are proposing zeros you 
out, cuts you off. They are saying to you that you are on your own at 
the State and local level to deal with these challenges.
  The American people want House Republicans to stop playing political 
games and work together across the aisle with Democrats to secure our 
homeland.
  For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to 
recommit this bill back to committee for further work. My amendment 
would secure our homeland by providing an additional $51 million to 
Customs and Border Protection to improve information sharing and 
prevent people who are on the watch list from entering our country and 
to enhance security at ports of entry and combat fentanyl trafficking 
by purchasing equipment, including license plate readers and substance 
detection devices.
  It would also provide over $150 million to detect radiological and 
nuclear materials and biohazard threats, and prevent terror attacks, 
and it would restore funding and authorities to combat domestic 
terrorism, domestic extremists like those who violently attacked police 
officers and tried to stop the people's votes from being counted on 
January 6.
  I ask my colleagues, let's put Americans first by working together 
across the aisle, the way people expect of us, to secure our homeland 
and keep people safe instead of advancing the extreme agenda of the 
former President, who, by the way, was just convicted of 34 criminal 
counts.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for the motion to 
recommit.
  Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the text of my amendment.
       Mr. Magaziner of Rhode Island moves to recommit the bill 
     H.R. 8752 to the Committee on Appropriations with the 
     following amendment:
       Page 2, after line 6, insert the following:


                           FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary and 
     for executive management for Federal assistance through 
     grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other 
     activities, $20,000,000, which shall be transferred to 
     ``Federal Emergency Management Agency--Federal Assistance'', 
     for targeted violence and terrorism prevention grants to 
     remain available until September 30, 2026.
       Page 2, line 16, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $15,000,000)''.
       Page 11, line 4, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $51,000,000)''.
       Page 12, line 8, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $30,000,000)''.
       Page 12, line 9, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $30,000,000)''.
       Page 25, line 1, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $30,000,000)''.
       Page 58, line 22, after the dollar amount insert 
     ``(increased by $105,798,000)''.
       Page 12, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(decreased by $221,798,000)''.
       Page 12, 1ine 10, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(decreased by $221,798,000)''.
       Page 24, line 17, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(decreased by $221,798,000)''.
       Page 24, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(decreased by $221,798,000)''.

  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Chair would remind Members to refrain from 
engaging in personalities toward presumptive nominees for the Office of 
President.


                 Amendment No. 38 Offered by Mr. Norman

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 38 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to purchase electric vehicles.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from South Carolina (Mr. Norman) and a Member opposed each will control 
5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.
  Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, my amendment is pretty simple. It prohibits

[[Page H4197]]

funding for the purchase of electric vehicles.
  We have a Member here in Congress who owns a dealership who is 
burying his electric vehicle, which doesn't work, as a testament to how 
useless these vehicles are.
  I rise in support of my amendment that prohibits funds for the 
purchase of electric vehicles. As part of the Department of Homeland 
Security's Climate Action Plan, whatever that is, the agency 
responsible for the safety and security of our Nation is wasting hard-
earned taxpayer dollars on EVs.
  DHS has set a goal to transition 50 percent of its vehicle fleet to 
zero-emissions vehicles by 2030 in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions. Where is DHS' goal to reduce the number of illegal 
immigrants entering this country?
  DHS is proud to be the first Federal agency to debut electric 
vehicles for law enforcement. How does an electric vehicle help a law 
enforcement officer do his or her job better? How does an electric 
vehicle protect our Nation? The DHS' website says it is implementing a 
new approach to meet the climate crisis, whatever that is, which 
includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  Mr. Chair, this is a joke. What about the real crisis that is 
threatening our Nation, the crisis at the border, the crisis that has 
resulted in many deaths that are reported daily?
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, first, we should all support sensible steps 
to reduce the government's greenhouse gas emissions. Electric vehicles 
have the potential to significantly improve Federal fleet efficiency 
and reduce vehicle operation and maintenance costs.
  Prohibiting the Department from buying one type of cutting-edge 
technology just because some of my colleagues want to score political 
points and continue to deny the existence of climate change is shameful 
and impractical. Transitioning our Federal fleet to electric vehicles 
where possible is not part of some woke agenda. It is a matter of 
practicality, risk mitigation, efficiency, and safety.
  I support these efforts, and I believe the American people support 
the cost savings, cleaner air, new jobs, and healthy environmental 
future that will come with working to achieve our climate goals.
  This amendment is just another partisan policy rider that gets us no 
closer to a final enacted bill for the Department before the close of 
the fiscal year.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to vote 
``no.'' I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, the real crisis at the border is the invasion 
that is now taking place with over 9.6 million illegal immigrant 
encounters since the Biden administration took office 3\1/2\ years ago, 
over 1.8 got-aways who evaded Border Patrol since the Biden 
administration took office 3\1/2\ years ago, over 50 illegal immigrants 
with ties to ISIS infiltrating our Nation, and over 27,000 Chinese 
Communist nationals encountered in fiscal year 2024.
  I don't know how much longer we are going to have to put up with the 
killings that are taking place. In one 2 days ago, a 13-year-old girl 
was dragged under a bridge, tortured for 2 hours, raped, and then 
killed.
  How long will my friends on the opposite side of the aisle put up 
with this kind of insanity? Since the Biden administration took office, 
it has opened the borders to anybody from anywhere, any country, 
without any vetting.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to ensure DHS 
is focused on their true mission to secure the Nation from the many 
threats that we face and to keep America safe.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 39 Offered by Mr. Norman

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 39 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used for the Inclusion Action Committee of the 
     Transportation Security Administration.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from South Carolina (Mr. Norman) and a Member opposed each will control 
5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.
  Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment that 
prohibits funds for TSA's Inclusion Action Committee.
  In August 2020, TSA announced the Inclusion Action Committee, which 
it describes as a coalition of diverse leaders focused on measuring the 
current state of diversity and inclusion at the TSA. The committee was 
instrumental in creating a gender-neutral option for the TSA PreCheck 
to serve nonbinary and gender nonconforming passengers and allow 
applicants to select their gender based on self-attestation, regardless 
of the sex assigned at birth.
  This is flat-out insanity. Where else does this work in our society? 
Can I go to a bank and say I am Bill Gates and need a $10 million loan? 
Can I go to any NFL team and say I am a star football player and get 
automatically on the team? It is insanity. How does letting a confused 
man check a box calling himself a woman make our country any safer? Is 
this really what we should be focusing on?
  The committee also came out with a report on best practices to 
support an inclusive, diverse environment. Where is the report on the 
best practices to secure our border, which has been open for the last 
3\1/2\ years?
  The Department of Homeland Security has utilized over 50 airports to 
process over 400,000 inadmissible aliens through this administration's 
unlawful Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan mass parole 
programs as well as any other country.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, there is probably no agency in the 
Department that interacts with everyday Americans, our constituents, 
more than the Transportation Security Administration.
  TSA's interaction with the traveling public is one that should 
reinforce TSA's commitment to the safety and security of the traveler 
and their experience with TSA. That is not just limited to screening 
baggage. It means respecting all travelers, including travelers from 
diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and the LGBTQIA+ community. TSA's 
recognition of inclusivity should be celebrated, not handicapped.
  Whether this majority wants to accept it or not, we are a diverse 
nation. That is what makes us great. This amendment is simply another 
pointless culture war and a waste of our time. I oppose the amendment, 
and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Chair, I would just say this is insanity. For those 
listening in the balcony, I am sure if they flew here, they had to 
present a valid ID, a valid verification, a valid ticket before they 
got on the airplane. With illegals, it is no photo ID, no verification 
or information, just a piece of paper provided by the illegal 
immigrant.
  This is a blatant mockery of United States law. Instead of securing 
our transportation system, TSA is more worried about diversity and 
feelings.
  As a side note, can I go up to the TSA agent and claim to be a pilot 
and get in the pilot seat? No, I can't. It is insanity to even say 
that. It is amazing this is even something we have to spend time 
debating.
  As I explained with my last amendment, DHS' mission is to secure the 
Nation from the many threats we face and to keep America safe. TSA's 
mission is to protect the Nation's transportation system, to ensure 
freedom of

[[Page H4198]]

movement for people and commerce. How does an Inclusion Action 
Committee that advocates for a woke diversity, equity, and inclusion 
agenda make our Nation any safer? The answer is it doesn't.
  Again, it is insanity to even have to debate this on the floor of the 
House of Representatives with all the other crises that we are facing.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 42 Offered by Mr. Ogles

  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Norman). It is now in order to consider 
amendment No. 42 printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 1, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.
       Page 95, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.

                              {time}  1400

  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment to cut the 
budget of the Office of the Secretary of Homeland Security by $10 
million.
  If we want our government to function, there must be consequences for 
poor performance. We have a record number of illegal aliens flooding 
across our borders. Under Secretary Mayorkas' so-called leadership, the 
U.S. Border Patrol's migrant encounters have reached five times the 
rate they were even under the Obama administration.
  Nearly 371,000 illegal aliens were apprehended in the United States 
in December alone, with over 5.4 million illegal alien apprehensions 
occurring between fiscal year 2023 and the present day. We know this 
failure comes from the top.
  That is why this body voted to impeach Secretary Mayorkas for his 
willful and systematic refusal to comply with the law. It is a breach 
of the public trust.
  My amendment imposes a measured cut to the Office of the Secretary to 
make it clear that we find his work unacceptable.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this 
amendment.
  This amendment would further cut funding from the Office of the 
Secretary and Executive Management beyond the damaging cuts already 
included in the majority's base bill. The bill already eliminates 
funding for the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman and for the 
Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships. It slashes funding for 
family reunification efforts and includes several undefined cuts to 
contracts, travel, personnel, and other base activities.
  It includes no additional funding for much-needed investments in the 
Department's electronic health records management system, nor does the 
bill address the growth and workload for the Office of Civil Rights and 
Civil Liberties.
  The bill also withholds important investments in the new Office of 
Homeland Security Statistics, which should serve as the foundation of 
evidence-based decisionmaking across the Department's diverse set of 
mission responsibilities.
  This amendment would require deeper cuts that will further harm 
important priorities. For example, the Office of Health Security is 
funded within this account, and it provides employee wellness and 
suicide prevention services for the Department's workforce. This 
account also provides funding for child well-being specialists to 
oversee the care of kids in CBP custody, ensuring they receive the 
proper level of care and helping to ensure that Border Patrol agents 
are able to prioritize their primary law enforcement duties.
  Mr. Chair, amendments like this are unserious and unhelpful. I urge 
my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chairman, serious? I think this is serious. Actions 
have consequences. Inaction should also have consequences.
  A 12-year-old girl, intending to connect with her 13-year-old 
boyfriend, instead was intercepted by two drunk illegals. They took 
her. They raped her. They strangled her. Two hours later, they tried to 
get money to leave the country.
  I pause because this is serious. We have a Secretary who is not doing 
his job.
  Mr. Chairman, this is a modest cut. It is not going to turn out the 
lights, but it sends a clear message that the Secretary's job is to 
protect American citizens. It is not diversity. It is not political 
points. It is to protect America.
  There were 400 individuals just designated as having potential ties 
to terrorists, but they weren't apprehended because they weren't on the 
terror watch list.
  Inaction has consequences. This is serious. This cut is meant to send 
a message: Enough is enough.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. DesJarlais). The question is on the amendment 
offered by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 43 Offered by Mr. Ogles

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 43 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to carry out Executive Order 14019 (86 Fed. Reg. 
     13623; relating to promoting access to voting), except for 
     sections 7, 8, and 10 of such Order.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chairman, Executive Order No. 14019, allegedly 
promoting access to voting, is an effort to divert Federal resources to 
partisan politics.
  This dangerous executive order instructs a wide range of agencies, 
including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Small 
Business Administration, to engage in voter turnout operations. Worse, 
it instructs agencies to partner with approved third-party 
organizations to assist them in their voter registration and other 
election-focused efforts.
  Who will approve these organizations? What criteria will be used? The 
executive order doesn't say.
  Congress has never granted the administration any authority to 
approve such groups or specified any criteria for doing so. This 
executive order is illegal.
  We all know how this will play out. The Biden administration will 
partner with groups focused on mobilizing Democratic voters. The 
executive order instructs agencies to let these groups use Federal 
property to conduct their voter registration initiatives with the 
assistance of Federal employees. The use of Federal resources may free 
up their other resources for more nakedly political operations 
elsewhere.
  Attorneys general in 13 States wrote to President Biden in opposition 
to this executive order.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
  It is absolutely disheartening to learn that any Member of Congress

[[Page H4199]]

would actively work to undermine voting rights in this country. Yet, 
once again, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are 
demonstrating that House Republicans have no regard for democracy and 
no desire to uphold every American's right to vote.
  That is why the majority is so desperate to draw district lines to 
choke out the voices of vulnerable and underrepresented Americans. Now, 
with this amendment, we see another one of their tactics, which is 
cruel and un-American. It is an antidemocratic provision by the 
majority, this time seeking to suppress access to voting and removing 
steps the administration is taking to ensure that our elections are 
fair and free from outside influence.
  Executive Order No. 14019 on voting access will help ensure that all 
Americans can exercise their right to vote, such as voters in 
underserved communities, voters who are younger and older, rural and 
urban, new citizens, servicemembers and veterans, Native Americans, 
voters with disabilities, and voters with language access concerns.
  Every Member of this body should support these ideals. While the 
amendment would allow the administration to continue these actions for 
servicemembers, voters with disabilities, and Native Americans, it 
would remove such efforts for other populations. That should tell my 
colleagues everything they need to know about their real intentions.
  The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, also known as 
CISA, is funded through this legislation. CISA plays a critical role in 
election security. For example, the Agency is working with the 
Department of Justice to combat the increased threats to election 
officials and election workers. How is that a bad thing?
  Honestly, I cannot comprehend how anyone who holds public office in 
our country could possibly support an amendment that attacks the very 
foundation of our democracy. This amendment does nothing more than 
threaten the integrity of our electoral process by limiting CISA's 
ability to ensure safe and secure elections for all U.S. citizens.
  Mr. Chair, I will vote ``no,'' and I encourage my colleagues to do 
the same. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chairman, we all understand the importance of 
maintaining the American people's faith in our elections. We understand 
that voting and access to the ballot box is important.
  My colleague spoke to the idea of outside influence, and that is 
exactly what this order does. It brings outside influence onto Federal 
property. The 13 attorneys general raised objections because, with 
individuals and outside groups being hosted on Federal property, if 
there is a violation, those AGs may have problems or troubles 
prosecuting the State law because it is on Federal property.
  This creates a conflict between the Federal Government and the 
States, as pointed out by attorneys general. It seems impossible that 
this executive order can be carried out without violations of the 
Antideficiency Act, which prohibits the use of funds for purposes not 
authorized by Congress; the Administrative Procedures Act; and the 
Hatch Act.
  Congress must clear this up. This amendment is clean. It is clear. It 
blocks some of this undue outside influence.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Tennessee 
will be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 44 Offered by Mr. Ogles

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 44 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to enforce any COVID-19 mask mandates.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chairman, my amendment prohibits the Secretary from 
requiring individuals to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
  Mr. Chair, this may seem like an old argument, but when we see the 
testimony of Fauci talking about how much of the recommendations were 
made up and fictitious, I think it is important that we keep this 
conversation in the forefront.
  I think we remind individuals that our government overreached its 
authority and infringed on liberty. I think it is important we draw a 
line in the sand and tell the Secretary that he can't offer a mandate 
that forces someone to wear a mask.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, first, these policies should be debated 
in a different context, on a different bill. DHS' role here is guided 
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DHS does not develop 
independent policies on these issues, but, rather, implements policies 
that originate with the CDC. Second, vaccines and masks are for the 
safety of self and others.
  If enacted under this amendment, the Department would struggle to 
ensure the health of the traveling public in the face of a pandemic. 
This amendment undermines public health and the Department's authority 
to ensure the safety of the traveling public. Instead, it needlessly 
prevents risk control measures at great risk to our communities.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate my colleague for her sentiment, 
but I would argue that this bill needlessly allows for the Secretary to 
infringe on the medical relationship between an individual and their 
doctor. It needlessly forces someone to wear a mask when there is no 
science to back it up.
  There was a New York Times article by leading epidemiologist Tom 
Jefferson, not to be confused with Thomas Jefferson, that said even the 
N-95, the gold standard in masks, wasn't effective at blocking the 
COVID-19 virus.
  It is important that anything that is infringing on someone's 
liberties be based on fact and science and not on conjecture and panic.
  Mr. Chairman, I ask adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 45 Offered by Mr. Ogles

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 45 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to administer, implement, or enforce the Memorandum 
     on the Deferred Enforced Departure for Certain Palestinians, 
     issued by the President on February 14, 2024.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chairman, following Hamas' brutal attack on October 7, 
this administration said all the right

[[Page H4200]]

things. Joe Biden said he was ready to offer all appropriate means to 
support the government and the people of Israel.
  The Acting U.S. Ambassador to Israel said he was sickened by the 
images coming out of southern Israel of dead and wounded civilians at 
the hands of terrorists from Gaza. The White House said it 
unequivocally condemned the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists 
against Israeli civilians.
  Of course, the Office of Palestinian Affairs, defunded by this act, 
called on Israel not to respond militarily to the crimes of rape and 
murder. Aside from that, the U.S. response couldn't have been stronger.

                              {time}  1415

  Fast-forward to June 2024, the Biden administration is withholding 
precision-guided munitions as Israel is facing down an existential 
threat from Hezbollah. The administration and its sycophants in the 
House and the Senate are attempting to undermine Israel's democracy by 
telling the Israeli Government not to defend the Israeli people and 
Israel's security interest.
  Meanwhile, American citizens taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 have 
died in captivity, and this administration's response continues to be 
insufficient, by proposing a cease-fire that is essentially on Hamas' 
terms. Most importantly, it preserves Hamas.
  We have done little to apply pressure on the negotiations, 
particularly Qatar, to use their extensive leverage against Hamas on 
getting Americans back. We have seen the Biden administration cave to 
the demands of student protesters who chant ``kill the Jews'' in 
Arabic.
  There is an old expression in the ``History of the Peloponnesian 
War'' in which it is said that: What men did once in private, they now 
do in public. He spoke of this in the context of the dying Athenian 
morality. I do fear that Hamas' goal of promoting international 
terrorism has emboldened far more public demonstrations of anti-
Semitism.
  We have seen pro-terror activists wielding bear spray while 
preventing Jews from using the entrance to their synagogues in L.A., 
seizing a building and holding custodial staff hostage at Columbia 
University, and other outrages. It is one sign among many of our 
growing societal rot.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, last November, I joined my Democratic 
colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden to urge him to 
designate the Palestinian territories for temporary protected status 
and/or authorize Deferred Enforcement Departure for Palestinians in the 
United States.
  I called on the President to take this action because I knew it would 
save lives, and I applaud the administration for taking this action.
  The administration's policy includes important exemptions, too, such 
as for individuals convicted of felonies or who otherwise pose a public 
safety threat. We know that many civilians remain in danger in Gaza 
after the horrific attacks by Hamas on October 7. The humanitarian 
conditions in Gaza continue to be appalling, and children have been 
disproportionately harmed.
  This amendment is cruel and unjustifiable.
  Furthermore, even if it were adopted, it likely would not accomplish 
anything except creating chaos related to the implementation of a 
policy that involves agencies that are not only in DHS, but also in the 
Departments of State, Justice, and Labor.
  The funds made available by the Department of Homeland Security 
Appropriations Act do not impact USCIS's fee-funded operations, which 
would create confusion even within DHS about how to implement this 
amendment if it were enacted.
  This amendment is nonsensical, and it ignores the realities of how 
our agencies actually work to solve pressing issues. I do not 
understand why we would want to be a Nation that sends civilians into 
dangerous, war-torn conditions to needlessly put their lives at risk.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I yield back the 
balance of my time
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, if this administration supported Israel as much 
as it has worked to preserve Hamas, this war would be over.
  Of course, it doesn't. Rather than signal its support for Hamas' 
extermination and Israel's right to defend itself, Joe Biden now wants 
to keep thousands of Hamas sympathizers in the United States.
  On February 14, 2024, perhaps chosen to demonstrate the 
administration's relative affinity for the so-called Palestinian cause, 
Joe Biden announced he was extending Deferred Enforced Departure for 
Palestinians, allowing up to 6,000 Palestinians to stay in our country 
through August 13, 2025.
  Think about that: Hamas has just been organized, and they attacked, 
and they raped, and they killed, and what does this administration do? 
It defends Hamas. It allows Palestinian sympathizers to stay in our 
country.
  Again, Mr. Chairman, enough is enough. This is the United States of 
America. It is time to secure our border. We get to decide who comes in 
and, by George, we get to decide who has to leave.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Tennessee 
will be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 46 Offered by Mr. Ogles

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 46 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:

     SEC. __. NONE OF THE FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE UNDER THIS ACT MAY 
                   BE USED TO DEVELOP OR IMPLEMENT ANY DEPARTMENT 
                   OF HOMELAND SECURITY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 
                   STRATEGY.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, environmental justice is a concept closely 
intertwined with DEI principles.
  Rather than seeking to use Federal resources to mitigate 
environmental harms as effectively and efficiently as possible, 
advocates of environmental justice want resources allocated based on 
their misguided notion of equity for marginalized communities.
  DHS owes all Americans fair treatment regardless of race, ethnicity, 
or any other factor. It also owes it to taxpayers to dedicate its 
resources to where they can provide the most benefit.
  Whatever some critical theory professor might claim, we all know that 
the weather is not racist. A tornado will not check the race of a 
homeowner before damaging a house. If the temperature reaches 100 
degrees in your town, it will be 100 degrees for everyone.
  The existing environmental justice strategy for 2021 through 2025 
sets such goals as: expand department-wide awareness of environmental 
justice considerations that might result from its programs, policies, 
and activities; further the integration of environmental justice 
principles into DHS lines of business, prominently including 
mitigation, adaptation, and resilience; strengthen outreach to 
communities and stakeholders. It goes on and on and on. It doesn't say 
anything about providing resources in the case of a catastrophic event.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.

[[Page H4201]]

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, this amendment seeks to defund 
environmental justice efforts at the Department of Homeland Security.
  As we continue to face unprecedented climate events, including 
extreme heat, poor air quality, flooding, and natural disasters of all 
types, vulnerable Americans have been struggling to adapt. It is no 
secret that minority communities have been disproportionately impacted.
  I will remind my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that many 
of the communities that would benefit from environmental justice 
efforts exist in their districts, too. They exist all over the country, 
and we need a whole-of-government approach to environmental justice to 
meet their needs.
  For too long, minority and low-income populations have endured 
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental 
effects from various local, State, and Federal governmental policies.
  Environmental justice strategies are a responsible step toward 
righting those wrongs. DHS' implementation of environmental justice 
efforts does not prevent it from securing the border, responding to 
disasters, or defending our critical infrastructure.
  On the contrary, these efforts strengthen DHS' outcomes by ensuring 
that the Department considers the impact on human health and the 
environment of historically marginalized and low-income populations as 
it executes its mission.
  Why would we want to prevent the fair treatment and meaningful 
involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, 
disability status, or income with respect to DHS' execution of its 
responsibilities?
  I will vote ``no,'' and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Chair, I appreciate my colleague's perspective.
  Prior to being in Congress, I was a county executive. One of my 
departments was emergency services, emergency management, county fire. 
We also had a county hospital and a county health department. What I 
can say is, during my tenure, I witnessed tragedies, tornadoes, fires, 
and in each case, those first responders, those in charge of deploying 
resources did so without concern for race, color, creed. They responded 
to a disaster.
  The idea that resources would be diverted for justice, I can speak 
for the men and women on the front lines, they don't see by way of 
color; they see people, their friends, their neighbors in need, and I 
trust they will do the right thing.
  There are procedures and mechanisms in place if there is truly an 
injustice that can be resolved.
  Mr. Chair, this is a good amendment. At a time of burdening debt, we 
have got to start cutting. This is wasteful. I urge adoption, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles).
  The amendment was agreed to.


               Amendment No. 48 Offered by Mr. Gottheimer

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 48 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Mr. Pascrell, I have an 
amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 44, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $30,000,000)''.
       Page 45, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $30,000,000)''.
       Page 45, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $15,000,000)''.
       Page 45, line 11, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $15,000,000)''.
       Page 58, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $30,000,00)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer) and a Member opposed each will control 
5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the bipartisan 
amendment to increase the budget of the Nonprofit Security Grant 
Program by $30 million.
  I thank my dear friend and colleague and great leader from New 
Jersey, the great Congressman Bill Pascrell, and the gentleman from 
Texas, Chairman McCaul, for his leadership in spearheading this effort.
  I also thank my great friend, Chairman Amodei, for his phenomenal 
leadership and all he does for his State to support all those who 
benefit from this important legislation.
  Mr. Chair, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program is all about 
protecting religious freedom and our houses of worship, schools, and 
community centers, including temples, churches, and mosques, the very 
places everyone should feel safe. We especially need to protect 
religious freedom now more than ever.
  Nonprofit Security Grants fund physical barriers like ballasts and 
bulletproof glass, technology to help with monitoring threats like 
cameras, and the hiring of onsite security officers. On top of that, 
these critical grants equip our nonprofits with the training and 
education they need to stay secure.
  This program is vital and majorly oversubscribed, especially given 
this moment we are living in.
  Applicants requested $679 million in funding this year for a program 
that only has about $300 million available. As a result, just 42 
percent of applicants, fewer than half, receive funding despite their 
need for these resources to protect the families and our communities 
more than ever.
  Here in America, the greatest country in the world, we must ensure 
that religious freedom endures. We must do everything we can to protect 
our children, our families, and communities from hate and 
discrimination. Unfortunately, New Jersey is a hub for anti-Semitic 
hate.
  Nearly 1 in 10 of the incidents reported to the ADL occurred in our 
State. Bergen County, where I live, led the State in shameful anti-
Semitic attacks. There were almost quadruple the number of insults, 
assaults, and death threats reported right here in our country in 2023 
as compared to the prior year.
  According to the Anti-Defamation League, which is a leading vital 
provider of facts and resources for this kind of information, 
nonpartisan, 2023 was the worst year for anti-Semitism since they began 
collecting data in 1979. There were more than 8,000 anti-Semitic 
incidents reported in 2023, including more than 5,000 anti-Semitic 
incidents reported after October 7.
  Anti-Semitism is just part of the story. We must reject hate and 
bigotry in all forms wherever it is. We are seeing disturbing incidents 
of Islamophobia and anti-Asian racism in northern New Jersey and in the 
tristate area.
  In New Jersey, during Eid al-Fitr, Rutgers' Center for Islamic Life 
was vandalized as the suspect smashed artwork and plaques. It is 
shameful.
  Our Asian-American, Pacific-Islander community is also under attack. 
A March survey from The Asian American Foundation found that one in 
five Asian-American New Yorkers had been physically assaulted. It is 
disgusting and completely unacceptable.
  We must ensure that all people are safe on college campuses, in our 
neighborhoods, at our schools, at our churches, at our mosques, and at 
our synagogues. That is what the Nonprofit Security Grants are all 
about and why this program is so important.

                              {time}  1430

  As the only Jewish Member of New Jersey's congressional delegation, 
and as the only Jewish Member of the House Intelligence Committee, this 
is very personal for me. I believe strongly in our American values, one 
of which is freedom: freedom from fear, freedom from hate, and freedom 
to worship, live, and learn however you choose.
  To safeguard these freedoms that we hold so dear, we must invest in 
our security to combat hate. Since I was sworn in, I have been focused 
on clawing millions of Federal dollars from Washington back to north 
Jersey through this very program to protect our religious institutions, 
$4.8 million in these vital grants for my district this year alone to 
protect them. They come to me every day and ask for help.
  I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I yield back the 
balance of my time.

[[Page H4202]]

  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                  Amendment No. 50 Offered by Mr. Roy

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 50 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Pfluger), and I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to administer, 
     implement, or enforce a ``Remain-in-Texas'' policy.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Roy) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Chairman, I do have an amendment at the desk, and I do 
want to make clear that this is on behalf of August Pfluger, my 
colleague from Texas, who has been a champion of this issue since he 
has been in Congress.
  The issue that is before us as we take up the Department of Homeland 
Security appropriations is the policy that the administration has put 
forward and, indeed, some Members of this Chamber, even some on this 
side of the aisle, have put forward. The policy would limit the ability 
to transport people who have come here illegally and that have been 
released into the United States by the administration into Texas. It 
would limit the ability to transport these individuals to other places 
in the country.
  We have referred to this as the remain in Texas policy, which we 
Texans take significant issue with. The impact on the State of Texas 
cannot be overstated.
  Texas, more than any other State in the Union, has been bearing the 
brunt of the wide-open border policies that have endangered the 
American people now for 3\1/2\ years, something that we hope to end 
soon.
  We, in Congress, have a duty under Article I to do something about 
it. That is why we put forward, I believe, a good DHS appropriations 
bill.
  We made clear that we need to secure the border in the process, but 
what we are not going to do is allow funds to be used to limit the 
ability of Texans to alleviate the damage being done to our State.
  We have spent now, I think, $13 billion, with a b, to carry out the 
duties that the Federal Government are supposed to carry out under the 
Constitution of the United States. That is what Texas has had to do.
  We have now been able to defray some of the traffic. We have now been 
able to decrease and force some of that traffic to other States, but we 
shouldn't be having to do that. We shouldn't be having to put up razor 
wire. We shouldn't be having to move our DPS troopers down to the 
border instead of allowing them to do their job to patrol the rest of 
the State, particularly because in the rest of the State, there are 
massive amounts of fentanyl pouring into our communities and our 
schools, killing our kids and killing the people in our community.
  Our position is that under no circumstances should any of the funds 
in this bill be used to limit the ability of the Governor of Texas or 
any of the other leaders of the State of Texas, or, frankly, leaders in 
other States from transporting people out of Texas so that other States 
have to bear the burden equally or at least partially. It is not even 
close to equally, by the way, partially, as much as Texas.
  In particular, take Kinney County, Texas. We had testimony in the 
Judiciary Committee from the leadership, the county attorney from 
Kinney County, Texas.
  Prior to the Biden administration's policies being implemented, in 
2021, they had about 150 arrests. Do you know how many they have had in 
the subsequent 3 years? Mr. Chair, there have been 7,000 arrests in a 
county of 3,000 people.
  We have documented evidence of individuals who have been unable to go 
get 911 services in Kinney County because the sole ambulance in Kinney 
County, population 3,000, was out dealing with issues involving illegal 
aliens.
  Meanwhile, the people who live there and pay taxes, a person died 
because they weren't able to get a 911 response because it is being 
consumed and those activities are being used to deal with the issue 
that the Federal Government not only refuses to deal with but, in fact, 
is purposely putting gas on the fire.
  I am here to advocate for the amendment being offered by Mr. Pfluger 
to say that no funds shall be able to be used to implement such a 
policy.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, I oppose this amendment not because I 
support the remain in Texas concept but because we are debating 
nonsense. This policy never happened. Why are we wasting time debating 
amendments to prohibit the implementation of nonexistent policies?
  We heard a rumor about this becoming a policy over a year ago. 
Despite all of the executive actions we have seen since, the 
administration has done nothing to suggest they are planning to move 
forward with this one.
  We can all invent amendments that prevent rumored policies from going 
into effect, and our bills would be loaded with nonsensical references 
to nonexistent policies.
  Digging up old, rumored policies that never went into effect and are 
no longer being discussed is a waste of our time.
  If I didn't know better, I would say my majority colleagues are 
running out of ideas on how to find failure with what the Biden 
administration is doing to secure our border.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Chair, my simple question, although the gentlewoman has 
yielded her time back, would simply be: What is the problem? What is 
the harm of putting the language in the bill if it is a policy that is 
not being implemented? I would tell you that it is a $13 billion rumor.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The Chair understands that amendment No. 52 will not be offered.


               Amendment No. 53 Offered by Mr. Rosendale

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 53 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be used to carry out the Department 
     of Homeland Security memorandum titled ``Worksite 
     Enforcement: The Strategy to Protect the American Labor 
     Market, the Conditions of the American Worksite, and the 
     Dignity of the Individual''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Montana (Mr. Rosendale) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Montana.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, my amendment No. 53 would prohibit funds 
from being used to enforce Secretary Mayorkas' memo titled: ``Worksite 
Enforcement: The Strategy to Protect the American Labor Market, the 
Conditions of the American Worksite, and the Dignity of the 
Individual.''
  With the stroke of a pen, Secretary Mayorkas eliminated an essential 
method of interior enforcement by requiring our Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement agents to fight with one hand tied behind their backs.
  The memo prohibits ICE from conducting worksite enforcement 
operations except in extremely limited circumstances.
  There are currently at least 16.8 million illegal aliens in our 
country, and estimates suggest that upwards of 65 percent of the 
illegal aliens are employed.

[[Page H4203]]

  Businessowners and ranchers in Montana work hard to ensure they 
follow Federal immigration law, and this memo punishes law-abiding 
businesses who refuse to hire illegal aliens.
  This memo tells employers that they no longer need to follow the law 
and literally incentivizes the hiring of illegal aliens.
  Additionally, Americans should not have to compete in the labor 
market with illegal aliens who are depressing wages and keeping good-
paying jobs away from American citizens.
  President Biden's and Secretary Mayorkas' refusal to allow ICE to do 
their job and enforce our Nation's laws is a clear dereliction of duty 
and presents a risk to our country's national security.
  Simply put, my amendment would allow ICE agents to do their job 
enforcing immigration law with the most effective methods possible.
  Under President Trump, worksite enforcement operations were a common 
practice, making it clear to illegal aliens and the employers that 
there would be consequences for breaking the law, putting all 
businesses on a level playing field.
  While impeaching Secretary Mayorkas was a needed first step, we must 
use the appropriations process to fix the policies that he has enacted.
  It is time we protect small businesses and owners and workers and 
force Secretary Mayorkas to let ICE do its job.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, this amendment ignores the horrors for 
those who are exploited into forced labor trafficking and dangerous 
working conditions, many of whom are subject to strenuous work while 
making substandard wages.
  The DHS memo referenced in this amendment was a reasonable and much-
needed step toward combating worker exploitation and the problems that 
follow. We still have so much work to do.
  Even the Department has noted that: `` . . . the most pernicious 
aspect of our country's unauthorized employment challenge: exploitative 
employers.''
  Yet, I don't see my colleagues on the other side of the aisle 
bringing forward amendments that would comprehensively address that 
issue.
  There is no denying that mass worksite operations furthermore 
threaten those who are most vulnerable to speak out about labor 
violations which has downstream impacts such as driving down wages and 
working conditions.
  Adoption of this amendment only empowers bad employers and undermines 
the enforcement of our country's core labor standards to the detriment 
of all workers.
  I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chairman, unfortunately, much like the complete 
disregard for the time limit on the first vote of the day that takes 
place in this Chamber every single day, it is because there are no 
consequences. There is no downside. There is no hammer. That is what we 
have to have.
  In Secretary Mayorkas' own memo, he says on the first page: ``In 
addition, unscrupulous employers harm each worker competing for a job. 
By exploiting undocumented workers and paying them substandard wages, 
the unscrupulous employers create an unfair labor market. They also 
unfairly drive down their costs and disadvantage their business 
competitors who abide by the law.''
  Once again, they are not offering, my colleagues on the other side of 
the aisle, anything about fixing this problem.
  If we not direct but allow ICE to do their job, we can start 
identifying and deporting these illegal aliens who are hurting our 
labor market and American workers.
  I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Montana (Mr. Rosendale).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Montana will 
be postponed.


                  Amendment No. 54 Offered by Mr. Roy

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 54 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. ___.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to carry out, 
     enforce, or implement the process entitled, ``Process to 
     Promote the Unity and Stability of Families'', announced by 
     the Department of Homeland Security on June 18, 2024.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Roy) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Chairman, in the wake of 3\1/2\ years of abject failure, 
but worse than that, purposeful action by the executive branch of the 
Federal Government to undermine the security of the American people, 
empower cartels, empower China, and allow little children, little girls 
to get sold into the sex trafficking trade for political expediency for 
the radical progressive Democrat left, in the wake of all of that with 
dead Americans, with Laken Riley, with Lizbeth Medina, with Kayla 
Hamilton, with all of the horrific stories, the stories of a 12-year-
old little girl getting raped, a 13-year-old little girl getting raped, 
in the wake of all of that, now the administration wants to continue 
its lawlessness by the use and abuse of executive power to grant 
amnesty.

                              {time}  1445

  That is the goal. That is the aim. Our colleagues on the other side 
of the aisle, our radical, progressive Democratic colleagues, view this 
as political opportunism--nothing more, nothing less. This is not about 
the huddled masses being invited into the United States. This is not 
about anything of the sort. This is about political power. That is what 
this is about.
  As a result, 53 human beings roasted in the Texas heat in a tractor-
trailer in San Antonio, Texas, which I represent, because my radical, 
progressive Democratic colleagues and the radical, progressive 
Democratic regime in the White House at the other end of Pennsylvania 
Avenue care more about political expediency than these human beings. 
That is the truth.
  They care more about political expediency than the individual 
Americans dying from fentanyl poisoning or any of the individuals that 
I just described who were murdered or raped or killed because we are 
allowing criminals to be released into the United States illegally, 
unlawfully, using and abusing parole authority.
  Now, the administration wants to grant amnesty. Why? Trust us, it is 
out of the goodness of our hearts, we are told. No, it is for the 
political expediency of setting up future voters.
  Importantly, and more presciently, this is all about creating more 
incentive for more people to flood the zone, to flood the border, to 
come into this country. That is what it is about.
  It doesn't matter whether it empowers cartels. It doesn't matter 
whether it empowers our enemies. It doesn't matter what it means for 
the security of the people of Texas or anybody else in this country. It 
is all about flooding the zone with more numbers.
  The legislation that we have before us, the amendment that we are 
putting forward, would prohibit the use of funds from promoting such a 
foolish amnesty plan by this radical administration that refuses to 
follow the law.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, first, let me clarify what the policy 
being attacked by this amendment actually does.

[[Page H4204]]

  This policy does not confer a new path to permanent status, let alone 
a new path to citizenship. The people who will benefit from the policy 
are already eligible for a green card, but the policy removes a barrier 
that would require almost all families to be separated for 10 years 
before the undocumented immigrant could be eligible for a green card. 
On average, these immigrants have been in the United States for 23 
years, are married to U.S. citizens, and still must go through a 
lengthy green card process.
  However, with this policy in place, people get to go through the 
legal steps of getting a green card without being separated for a 
decade or longer from their families.
  Any advocate for family values and unity should support this new 
process, which only applies to a limited subset of immigrants. Instead 
of being attacked, we should all applaud the Biden administration for 
advancing this policy. It demonstrates that the United States 
prioritizes family unity over archaic and harmful bureaucratic 
processes that serve no value and certainly provide no deterrence 
effect.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this new policy and vote 
``no'' on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Self), my good friend.
  Mr. SELF. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of Mr. Roy's 
amendment to prohibit any government funding for the Biden 
administration parole-in-place mass amnesty scheme.
  This parole-in-place executive order clearly demonstrates that the 
Biden administration is not and has never been serious about securing 
the border. His process would grant mass amnesty to approximately 
80,000 inadmissible alien spouses of American citizens per month.
  Make no mistake, the timing of this executive order was purposeful. 
On June 21, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Department of State 
v. Munoz and concluded that a U.S. citizen spouse does not have a 
fundamental liberty interest in her alien spouse's admission into the 
United States. The Biden administration rolled out his executive order 
directly contradicting this opinion just 3 days prior. The decision was 
obviously leaked to the Biden administration.
  This is another example of in-your-face tyranny. This administration 
is lawless.
  We must not pass a DHS appropriations bill that funds this mass 
parole order that would grant amnesty to possibly thousands of 
criminals and further endanger communities across the Nation, 
particularly in light of the cynical and lawless timing of this order.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Chair, I appreciate my colleague from Texas. I agree 
with him, and I associate myself with his remarks.
  The unilateral action by this executive branch is nothing new. They 
have been doing it with student loans. They have been doing it with all 
sorts of laws, where they ignore the law--parole authority, abuse of 
law, endangering the American people.
  This would give permanent residence and a path to citizenship to 
hundreds of thousands of illegal alien spouses of U.S. citizens and 
their noncitizen minor children. That is being done through unilateral 
action by the executive branch.
  This is not how we are supposed to make policy or law. It is 
important for us to use the power of the purse to push back.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas will 
be postponed.


                  Amendment No. 55 Offered by Mr. Roy

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 55 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act be 
     used implement any of the following Executive Orders:
       (1) Executive Order 13990, relating to Protecting Public 
     Health and the Environment and Restoring Science To Tackle 
     the Climate Crisis.
       (2) Executive Order 14008, relating to Tackling Climate 
     Crisis at Home and Abroad.
       (3) Section 6 of Executive Order 14013, relating to 
     Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs To Resettle Refugees and 
     Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration.
       (4) Executive Order 14030, relating to Climate-Related 
     Financial Risk.
       (5) Executive Order 14057, relating to Catalyzing Clean 
     Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability.
       (6) Executive Order 14082, relating to Implement of the 
     Energy and Infrastructure Provisions of the Inflation 
     Reduction Act of 2022.
       (7) Executive Order 14096, relating to Revitalizing Our 
     Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Roy) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Chairman, this amendment will prohibit Homeland Security 
appropriations from being used to carry out President Biden's climate 
executive orders.
  People might wonder why this is important. President Biden and 
Secretary Mayorkas have been doing a massive amount of damage to this 
country with wide-open borders. Not only do they endanger the American 
people, but they have literally lied and been caught lying about their 
own Border Patrol agents, who they accused of whipping Haitian migrants 
when they knew full well it wasn't true.
  They have been targeting, undermining, and attacking their own 
personnel, their own law enforcement community, going after CBP and 
Border Patrol simply because Border Patrol wants to do their job. That 
endangers the American people.
  That is not it. That is not all they are doing. The President's 
executive orders are undermining our national security and making us 
beholden to China in other ways, making us beholden to the rest of the 
world by undermining our ability to produce reliable energy--all in 
pursuit of radical, progressive Democrats' vision of unicorn energy 
policy, which is unreliable and will not produce the energy needed to 
be able to carry out and be competitive in the world.
  EVs are piling up on lots as we speak. Dealers can't unload them. 
They literally can't. They can't sell them. Why? Because if I want to 
get in my car in Austin, Texas, and drive to Midland, I have to stop 
three times along the way and can't even find charging stations. Put 
aside the fact that the cars are more expensive, more unreliable, and 
more difficult to repair. That is the reality.
  Meanwhile, unreliable energy is dotting our grids across the entire 
country, including Texas. Why? Because instead of pursuing logical 
policies like nuclear, if you care about CO2 production, or 
clean-burning natural gas, which has been driving down CO2 
production around the world, we instead are choosing to litter the 
landscape with windmills and solar panels, which, by the way, are made 
out of what? Materials from China, which, by the way, come from what? 
They come from forced child labor, which is going out and forcing 
children to have to go out and be in work camps, to go mine the cobalt 
necessary for batteries, mine the minerals that are necessary for all 
the solar panels, the solar panels and the windmills that all have to 
be buried and filled in the ground, all of which, by the way, produces 
unreliable energy and puts us behind the rest of the world in energy 
production when 3 billion people on this planet don't even have 
reliable energy.
  We are literally shooting ourselves in the economic foot. That is 
what we are doing. We are doing it all because, I don't know, the 
feels. I don't know, put a sticker on your Tesla while you drive around 
and feel good about yourself. Pat yourself on the back when you are

[[Page H4205]]

not denting CO2 production. You could actually get rid of 
every internal combustion engine car in America and you wouldn't reduce 
CO2 around the world by less than about 1\1/2\ percent, if 
at all.
  The radical climate change executive orders by the President are 
undermining our national security, forcing the DOD, DHS, all these 
executive branch agencies to weaken their ability to be productive and 
get their job done.
  Can you imagine the Border Patrol can't even talk right now on 
radios? They can't even communicate when they move along the border, if 
they are even allowed to go man the border. Instead, they are changing 
diapers in some room in one of the ports of entry because we have been 
dumping people in through parole policies.
  Now they are going to be stuck down there trying to charge their 
batteries, hoping they can even go find the people crossing the river. 
You can't even make this crap up.
  If you set out to destroy a country, if you set out to literally 
destroy a country, I don't know how you could come up with policies 
better than those of the radical, progressive Democrats, who want to 
remake this country in their radical, leftist image.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, this is yet another attempt by my 
colleagues across the aisle to attack any effort by the Biden 
administration to tackle the climate crisis and help our communities 
become more climate resilient. It is obviously misguided, antiscience, 
and will put all of us at greater risk of harm as a result of climate 
disasters.
  Only flawed and shortsighted thinking would presume that the climate 
crisis does not intersect with so many of the issues relevant to the 
Department's mission, including migration, national security, and 
disaster relief.
  Mr. Chair, I will vote ``no,'' and I encourage my colleagues to do 
the same. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Chair, I would just note that it is critically important 
that we adopt these amendments to restrict the executive branch from 
carrying out these executive orders. They are undermining our 
efficiency and effectiveness.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 56 Offered by Mr. Amodei

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 56 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Chairman, I rise as the designee of Congresswoman 
Stefanik to offer and support amendment No. 56.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  The salary of Nejwa Ali, U.S. Citizenship and 
     Immigration Services Adjudication Officer, shall be reduced 
     to $1.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Nevada (Mr. Amodei) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada.
  Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment and 
thank the gentlewoman from New York for offering it.
  Our Conference has been quite clear about standing with Israel in 
their fight against a brutal and inhumane terrorist organization that 
not only committed the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the 
Holocaust but continues to hold innocent men, women, and children as 
hostages.
  I also recognize the Jewish community has been the target of 
increasing anti-Semitism, which was one of the reasons for the 
amendment that we did earlier regarding supplementing FEMA's program 
for protection against bigotry.
  Bigotry has no place in America. It certainly has no place in the 
Department of Homeland Security.
  Nejwa Ali is a DHS immigration adjudication officer. She was exposed 
celebrating the October 7 terrorist attack online. It was later 
revealed that she previously worked for the Palestine Liberation 
Organization, also known as the PLO, which some people would say has a 
troublesome reputation, to put it kindly. Their reputation is in the 
tank when it comes to anti-Semitic policies and things like that.
  During the budget hearing this last April, Secretary Mayorkas 
confirmed for us that she was still employed and on paid administrative 
leave in April, and the Department confirmed to my staff within the 
last 2 weeks that this continues to be the case. This is unacceptable. 
The Department has had more than 8 months to investigate and terminate 
this employee with cause pursuant to the applicable civil service 
regulations.
  While the Secretary and Biden administration refuse to do the right 
thing, I invite the Members of the House of Representatives to 
terminate this employee. We must do the right thing and act with 
urgency to force their hand.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the temptation to take 
congressional action against government individuals when we hear they 
have done something that we find offensive, but as lawmakers, it is 
important that we defend the core principles upon which our country is 
founded, and that includes a system of checks and balances.
  We know from the Secretary's testimony earlier this year that there 
is an active investigation related to Nejwa Ali, a Trump-era hire, and 
that she has been placed on leave and is not performing the duties and 
responsibilities for which she was hired. We must allow this process to 
work.
  Ironically, the bill we are considering today would cut important 
departmental resources that are meant to strengthen its personnel 
security vetting policies and procedures, such as a cut of nearly $14 
million to the Office of the Chief Security Officer.
  It is a shame that, throughout this process, my majority colleagues 
continue to criticize the Department for not doing its job while at the 
same time they propose cutting the resources the Department needs to 
address the very concerns that they continue to raise.
  In addition, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that this 
amendment also raises constitutional issues.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I yield back the 
balance of my time.

                              {time}  1500

  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Amodei).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 57 Offered by Mr. Steube

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 57 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. STEUBE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be used to make payments to the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs for medical claims of 
     individuals detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Steube) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
  Mr. STEUBE. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment that 
would prohibit Immigration and Customs Enforcement from sending funds 
to the Department of Veterans Affairs to process medical claims for 
illegal immigrants in ICE custody.
  This is a similar amendment to one that I led earlier this month on 
the

[[Page H4206]]

funding bill for the VA. I was pleased that my amendment was included 
in that bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment that 
would ensure that the VA focuses its resources on veterans, not illegal 
immigrants.
  Last December, I led a letter to the VA with 23 other Republican 
Members after seeing reports that ICE was using VA personnel to process 
medical claims for illegal immigrants in ICE custody.
  Thanks to the Biden administration's reckless policy on the border, 
we continue to see record numbers of illegal crossings. This will 
inevitably increase the burden on VA workers who should be fulfilling 
their duties to serve veterans instead.
  The VA exists to serve American veterans who risked their lives to 
protect our country. For far too long, the VA has fallen short on its 
mission: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise ``to care for him who 
shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan'' by 
serving and honoring the men and women who are America's veterans.
  Veterans continue to experience unacceptable wait times in receiving 
medical care and disability benefits. Under the Biden administration, 
the disability claims backlog has exploded. As of last week, there are 
273,307 outstanding disability claims that have been pending for more 
than 125 days. This is unacceptable, and the VA personnel should not 
lift a finger for illegal immigrants in ICE custody while thousands of 
veterans are forced to wait to receive the benefits they deserve.
  Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment to ensure 
that VA personnel work for veterans, not illegal immigrants held by 
ICE. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, the Department of Veterans Affairs' 
Financial Services Center provides a purely administrative function for 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement to process third-party medical 
claims for those in CBP's and ICE's custody.
  Regardless of your stance on immigration, those seeking medical 
attention should not be denied access to care. The third-party medical 
providers who provide any medical care that can't be provided within 
ICE and CBP facilities deserve to be paid in a timely and accurate 
manner.
  The VA's Financial Services Center has that capability, and we are 
fortunate that it does. This is not unlike how the Department of 
Agriculture's National Finance Center is the finance center that is 
used to process the payment of paychecks for thousands of employees 
across the Federal Government.
  Further, this amendment does not prevent ICE from providing medical 
care to those in its custody. It will simply make it more expensive and 
more cumbersome not only for DHS but also for the local medical service 
providers seeking reimbursement for the services that they provided.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. STEUBE. Mr. Chair, the money appropriated by this body and by 
Congress for the VA, for veterans and for veterans healthcare, should 
not be used to provide medical claims for illegal immigrants.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Steube).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida will 
be postponed.


                Amendment No. 58 Offered by Mr. Tiffany

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 58 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to grant 
     temporary protected status under section 244 of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a) to any 
     national of El Salvador.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.
  Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Chair, this amendment would prohibit the expenditure 
of funds to extend what is known as temporary protected status, or TPS, 
for nationals of El Salvador.
  TPS is a tool provided by Congress that allows for the President, 
acting through the Department of Homeland Security, to allow foreign 
nationals to remain temporarily in the United States if conditions in 
their home country are too dangerous to send them back.
  The intent was to authorize a short reprieve from removal, with the 
idea being that the beneficiaries would be repatriated when conditions 
improved. Unfortunately, however, like so many immigration laws, this 
narrow authority has been repeatedly abused.
  Nationals of El Salvador, for example, were granted TPS in the 
chaotic aftermath of an earthquake. Here is the problem: That 
earthquake was in 2001, more than two decades ago.
  Mr. Chair, times have changed. Since 2001, America has had four 
presidents and El Salvador has had five. El Salvador now boasts the 
lowest homicide rate of any country in our hemisphere, other than 
Canada, not to mention a robust tourism ministry that markets whale 
watching, surfing, gourmet coffee tours, scenic volcano hikes, and posh 
all-inclusive resorts.
  Mr. Chair, I am glad that El Salvador has recovered from the 2001 
earthquake, and I applaud the progress their leader has made in 
combating crime and promoting economic reform.
  However, the ``T'' in TPS stands for ``temporary.'' TPS was never 
intended to operate as a permanent loophole to provide rolling amnesty 
to hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals, most of whom were here 
illegally to begin with.
  Mr. Chair, I ask for a ``yes'' vote on the amendment, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, throughout the debate today, it is not 
clear if our colleagues saw today's announcement, so I just want to 
make sure that we all know that the Presidential proclamation issued by 
President Biden to temporarily suspend the entry of certain noncitizens 
across the southern border and the complementary joint interim final 
rule issued by DHS and DOJ have now been in effect for 3 weeks, 
resulting in a significant reduction in the number of encounters at our 
southwest border.
  Under that interim final rule, asylum eligibility is generally 
limited for those who cross the southern border unlawfully or without 
authorization during times of high encounters. While it is still early, 
the Border Patrol's 7-day encounter average has decreased more than 40 
percent to under 2,400 encounters per day.
  The Immigration and Nationality Act outlines the conditions under 
which a country may be designated for temporary protected status, and 
it requires periodic reviews to determine whether the conditions for 
this status continue to be met.
  Based on USCIS' latest review, the Secretary extended El Salvador's 
TPS designation through March 9, 2025. Since the earthquakes of 2001, 
El Salvador has continued to suffer from hurricanes, floods, and other 
natural disasters, making it difficult for the country to fully recover 
and allow for the safe return of individuals currently receiving TPS 
benefits.
  El Salvador also continues to struggle with gang violence, crime, and 
general insecurity and economic instability, which pose risks to the 
safety and well-being of any potential returnee.

[[Page H4207]]

  I encourage my colleagues to take these concerns to the appropriate 
authorizing committee if the gentleman feels that the INA should be 
amended in any way, but singling out a country through this amendment 
process is an inappropriate way to handle this matter.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the amendment, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Chair, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Amodei).
  Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Chair, I will just put on the Record that I associate 
myself with the remarks of Mr. Tiffany, and I support the amendment.
  Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Wisconsin has the only time 
remaining.
  Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Chair, I would just add, in response to the comments 
that we just heard from the other side of the aisle, they should tell 
the American people who have suffered through the fentanyl deaths that 
are the number one killer of young people in America. Tell that to the 
American people as they see terrorists come into this country. Tell 
this to the people of America as they see murders happen all over the 
country, including people dying in my district clear up in northern 
Wisconsin.
  We also heard about continuous natural disasters. There are always 
natural disasters in every country. Do we let people from every country 
come in just because they have natural disasters?
  This is TPS. It is temporary. Twenty years is plenty of temporary. It 
is time to stop the temporary protected status for El Salvador.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin 
will be postponed.


                Amendment No. 59 Offered by Mr. Tiffany

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 59 
printed in part C of House Report 118-559.
  Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to grant 
     temporary protected status under section 244 of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a) to any 
     national of Honduras.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1316, the gentleman 
from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.
  Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Chair, this amendment is very similar to the prior 
amendment. It prohibits the expenditure of funds to extend temporary 
protected status, in this case to nationals from Honduras.
  That ``T'' in TPS is important because it stands for ``temporary.'' 
In the case of Honduras, this temporary designation was issued in 
response to a hurricane. When did that hurricane make landfall, you 
might ask? It was in October of 1998. Bill Clinton was in the White 
House, gasoline was $1.05 per gallon, Microsoft had just replaced 
General Electric as America's most valuable company, and the first 
BlackBerry wouldn't hit store shelves for another year. Yet this 
temporary amnesty continues.
  Like El Salvador, conditions in Honduras have improved. The country 
elected a new President in 2022, completing a peaceful transfer of 
power. Honduras also has an active tourism industry, marketing 
ziplining, visits to U.N. World Heritage sites, world-class scuba 
diving, and some of the Caribbean's best beaches and all-inclusive 
resorts.
  If Honduras is safe enough to welcome millions of tourists each year, 
isn't it safe enough to welcome Hondurans back home?
  Mr. Chair, it is time to put the ``T'' back in TPS. TPS was never 
intended to be the ``Hotel California'' that says illegal aliens can 
check in anytime but they can never leave.
  Mr. Chair, I ask for a ``yes'' vote on the amendment, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Illinois is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Chair, the Immigration and Nationality Act 
outlines the conditions under which a country may be designated for 
temporary protected status, and it requires periodic reviews to 
determine whether the conditions for the status continue to be met.
  Based on USCIS' latest review, the Secretary extended Honduras' TPS 
designation through July 5, 2025.
  Since the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, Honduras has 
continued to suffer from hurricanes, floods, tropical storms, and other 
natural disasters, making it difficult for the country to fully recover 
and allow for the safe return of individuals currently receiving TPS 
benefits.
  Honduras also continues to struggle with gang violence, drug 
trafficking, crime, and economic instability, which pose risks to the 
safety and well-being of any potential returnee.

                              {time}  1515

  I encourage my colleagues to take their concerns to the appropriate 
authorizing committee if the gentleman feels that the INA should be 
amended in any way, but singling out a country through this amendment 
process is an inappropriate way to handle this matter.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Chairman, this is the appropriate forum to bring 
this before. It is to deny funding for something that is no longer 
temporary. This has become, we might as well rename it PPS, permanent 
protective status rather than TPS.
  This is the appropriate venue to deny the funding to allow the 
President to continue to use this just like every other means, whether 
it is parole and all other type things, to be able to allow people to 
illegally come into our country.
  By the way, what country around the world hasn't had a natural 
disaster?
  Are we going to let people come in from every country in the world 
when there is a hurricane, a typhoon, or an earthquake, whatever 
natural disaster happens?
  That is what we are being set up for here.
  When we hear gang violence being talked about, why is there so much 
gang violence in those countries?
  It is, in part, because we have open borders. I was in Panama 3 years 
ago. I went to the Darien Gap. I saw what was going on down there when 
hundreds of thousands of people were coming in through the Darien Gap. 
It is now tens of thousands of people who are going through the Darien 
Gap making their way up through Central America, including Honduras. 
That is, in part, what is destabilizing these countries.
  If we would pass H.R. 2 and we had a President who chose to secure 
the border, then we would see safer countries, and we would no longer 
need TPS in countries like Honduras.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin 
will be postponed.
  Mr. AMODEI. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.
  The motion was agreed to.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Tiffany) having assumed the chair, Mr.

[[Page H4208]]

DesJarlais, Acting Chair of the Committee of the Whole House on the 
state of the Union, reported that that Committee, having had under 
consideration the bill (H.R. 8752), making appropriations for the 
Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 
30, 2025, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution thereon.

                          ____________________