Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026

Floor Speech

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Cole for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, the fiscal year 2026 Homeland Security appropriations bill is the culmination of the hard work of our committee and our staff and provides critical investments to protect the American homeland.

As a member of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security, I know that this bill champions public safety and preparedness. It protects taxpayer dollars and refocuses the Department on its core functions.

With border encounters at a historic low, this legislation fully funds DHS and the effort to detain and remove violent, illegal immigrants from our communities.

In central Washington, we know firsthand the important work done by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This bill increases FEMA grant programs by 5 percent above their previous levels and restores critical staffing positions lost under the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution. It also delivers funds directly to communities across the country, including my own Yakima County, to establish a dedicated emergency operation center and ensure timely and well-coordinated emergency response efforts.

The U.S. Coast Guard is fundamental in protecting our border and domestic security. This bill boosts funding for the Coast Guard and provides funding to counter China's footprint in the Indo-Pacific.

Lastly, as a member of the Select Committee on the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party, I am pleased to see this bill refocuses the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, or CISA, on its core cybersecurity mission and rightsizes the agency to preserve critical functions. This includes funding to counter threats from adversarial nations and ensure critical infrastructure systems are protected from these threats.

Mr. Speaker, this Homeland Security bill is the last piece in completing 12 fiscally responsible, bipartisan spending bills. It is a testament to--

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. It is a testament to the hard work of the committee and subcommittee leadership on both sides of the aisle and the dedicated staff that spent an untold amount of time to make this process work.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues on both sides to support this negotiated bill that provides the resources necessary to secure our borders, protect Americans here at home, and ensure we are being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

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