The Homeland Security Appropriations Act of FY2014

Floor Speech

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2217, the FY14 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. I appreciate the bipartisan effort put into crafting H.R. 2217 and commend the members of the Appropriations Committee for encouraging a collaborative and open process. It's unfortunate that at the last minute an anti-immigration amendment offered by Representative Steve King of Iowa upset the delicate bipartisan balance established in the bill.

Recent events emphasize the importance of ensuring the availability of the resources our country needs to address national emergencies. The tornadoes in Oklahoma, the bombings at the Boston Marathon, forest fires in California and Colorado are just a few examples of why funding for homeland security should always be considered a national priority. This bill provides resources to address these and other critical needs by directing funding to protect the country's transportation infrastructure and cybernetworks, and equally important, to our first responders who help to protect our communities and who play a vital role in helping keep the nation safe and secure. In total, the bill appropriates $38.9 billion for the Department in FY 2014 for these and other critical national priorities.

While I support the level of funding set for Homeland Security in this bill, I strongly oppose the funding levels set in the Republican budget plan for other key priorities. For example, the Republican budget recklessly cuts the category of funding for our kids' education and medical research by 20 percent below the sequester level. Consequently, I strongly support the President's position that the funding levels for Homeland Security must ultimately be considered in the context of an overall agreement on the budget. Unfortunately, our Republican colleagues in the House and Senate continue to refuse to convene a conference to negotiate a budget agreement.

Additionally, I share the President's concern about the bill's failure to fund the request for the Department of Homeland Security headquarters consolidation project, which will only delay the project further; the bill's failure to fully fund the request for new Customs and Borders Protection officers; and the bill's continued funding of the unnecessary 287 (g) program when the Secure Communities program is a more efficient and cost-effective alternative.

In that same vein, this year I again opposed the anti-immigration amendment offered by Representative KING that prohibits the use of funds in the bill from being used to implement the so called ``Morton Memos.'' These memos were written by ICE Director Morton and provide a plan to deploy ICE resources to the most cost effective priorities and provide guidance to ensure that limited resources are focused on criminals and other individuals who pose a genuine threat to national security or public safety. I am disappointed that the House chose to again include this provision and it is for that reason that I will oppose this bill.

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