[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 405]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




DO NOT HOLD THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HOSTAGE TO A POLITICAL 
                                 AGENDA

  (Mr. ISRAEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, the tragedy in France has put us all on 
notice that the threat of terror is strong and we must be prepared. We 
need to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is ready, 
willing, and able to detect and stop what happened in France from 
happening here.
  Shockingly, this week, Republicans, rather than taking steps to 
strengthen the DHS, will take steps to actually weaken it. They will do 
so by holding the Department hostage to their politics on immigration.
  They will offer five amendments to politicize the DHS at a time when 
we need it to be its professional best. They have placed their 
ideological agenda ahead of paychecks. Now, they are placing their 
ideological agenda ahead of our protection.
  Mr. Speaker, if they want to pass an immigration bill, pass one. If 
they want to politicize issues, do it on another issue, but not the 
Department of Homeland Security. Do not jeopardize the safety of the 
American people with a political stunt and not this week, after 
terrorists murdered innocent civilians in France. Do not hold the DHS 
hostage to a political agenda.
  They are saying that this is a political compromise. I understand 
political compromise, but the homeland security of my constituents and 
the American people should never be the subject of a political 
compromise.

                          ____________________