Department of Homeland Security Shutdown Threat

Floor Speech

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Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Mr. Speaker, national security--protecting our Nation's borders, airports, and computer networks--should be a priority.

Making sure the Department of Homeland Security, created with bipartisan support in the wake of September 11, has what it needs to protect our Nation from terrorism and other threats is a no-brainer, but the Republicans are jeopardizing all of that just for the opportunity to tell millions of hardworking, aspiring Americans that they are not welcome here.

This tactic of ``my way or no way'' is dangerous and serves the interests of a few at the expense of the many. Holding our top national security agenda hostage because the Republican majority is unhappy with the President's executive action on immigration is illogical and counterproductive.

In fact, former DHS Secretaries from both parties have warned that this approach will actually weaken--not strengthen--our borders.

The American people deserve better. They expect us to set partisan politics aside and ensure that government has the resources it needs. I urge my colleagues to listen to the needs of the American people and bring a clean DHS funding bill to the floor.

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