Providing for Consideration of H.R. Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. FONG. Mr. Speaker, last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan funding package for the Department of Homeland Security. It is regrettable that Senate Democrats chose to abandon a bipartisan and bicameral deal on full-year DHS funding, jeopardizing our safety and security here at home.

Today, we face growing threats as our Nation encounters the real danger posed by the Iranian regime, as well as other adversaries around the world. It is critical that we ensure the agencies tasked with protecting our Nation are fully operational, are at full strength, and have the resources needed to neutralize any potential threats to our homeland.

As congressional Democrats continue to play partisan games, they are weakening our cybersecurity operations, disrupting critical intelligence sharing, and forcing over 250,000 public servants supporting our national security to go without pay. This includes critical personnel from TSA, who work every day to prevent terror attacks, and from FEMA, who support our communities in the wake of disasters.

This is the second time in the past 4 months that TSA workers are working without pay. During the last shutdown, TSA saw increased rates of unscheduled absences and localized spikes in wait times, which are expected again during the shutdown as spring travel begins to rise.

In my home State of California, we continue preparations to host major international events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins this coming June, followed by the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. The World Cup will be the largest sporting event in history, with upward of 5 million international fans traveling to the United States.

The safety and success of these global events hinge on DHS' ability to maintain mission readiness. The longer this partial shutdown continues, the weaker our ability to prepare for these events becomes. To delay any longer is to risk the lives of countless Americans and millions of international visitors alike.

This week, the House will vote once again to reopen DHS and reaffirm its commitment to public safety. I urge my colleagues across the aisle to join us in voting to reopen the Department of Homeland Security so it can get back to its core mission of safeguarding American communities.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source