Providing for Consideration of H.R. Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act; Providing for Consideration of H. Res. Expressing the Support of the House of Representatives for the Department of Homeland Security; Providing for Consideration of H.R. Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act of Providing for Consideration of H.R. Defending American Property Abroad Act of and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, western North Carolina is still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Families are rebuilding homes, small businesses are getting back on their feet, and our communities are repairing critical infrastructure.

A Department of Homeland Security shutdown threatens critical disaster recovery efforts in my district. Each day that the Department of Homeland Security goes unfunded, funding in the Disaster Relief Fund is drained, putting recovery efforts at risk. Once that money is gone, recovery comes to a halt, leaving families and communities waiting even longer just as they are trying to get back on their feet.

We can't let politics get in the way of disaster recovery. Every day that DHS is shut down is another day that families, schools, and roads in western North Carolina are left waiting.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues, please, fund DHS now. Let's help ensure western North Carolina communities can continue to rebuild. We simply cannot wait.

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