As Friday Deadline Approaches, Welch Calls on Congress to End Brinkmanship Over Homeland Security Budget

Press Release

At the Burlington International Airport this morning, Rep. Peter Welch called on Congress to do its job and pass a budget for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Should Congress not approve the agency's budget by Friday at midnight, it will run out of money resulting in the furlough of 30,000 federal employees and forcing 200,000 employees, including Secret Service agents, Border Patrol officers and TSA workers, to work without pay.

Republican leaders are using the threat of shutting down the agency to block President Obama from using his executive authority to implement immigration reforms announced last year.

"Republican leaders are once again employing their failed strategy of shutting down government to force the President's hand in a policy dispute. It didn't work for the Affordable Care Act and it won't work for immigration," said Welch. "What it will do is force those protecting the lives of the First Family to work without pay. It will force workers protecting air travelers from threats to work without pay. And it will force customs and border employees protecting our land borders to work without pay. Republican leaders should abandon this discredited strategy that will put our homeland security at risk and let the courts sort out the dispute over immigration policy. "

Congressman Welchis a sponsor of a "clean" Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 861) which will fully fund the Department of Homeland Security withoutextraneous provisions blocking the President's immigration reforms.

Services Provided by the Department of Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security has five primary missions: prevent terrorism and enhance security; secure and manage our borders; enforce and administer our immigration laws; safeguard and secure cyberspace; and strengthen national preparedness and resilience.

Aviation Security: DHS includes Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening operations to ensure flight security and effectively screen passengers and luggage.

Radiological and Nuclear Detection: DHS funds Radiological and Nuclear Detection Equipment, with which the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and other DHS components, including the Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Transportation Security Administration, keep our nation's ports safe and secure by detecting potentially dangerous materials.

Border Security: DHS employs border patrol agents to maintain necessary border security infrastructure and technology, improving U.S. Customs and Border Protection's ability to detect and interdict illegal activity.

Coast Guard: DHS enforces laws and treaties to defend our maritime coast against illegal activity and potential acts of terrorism.

Cyber-Criminal Investigations: DHS funds the United States Secret Service's network of 46 Financial Crimes Task Forces and 38 Electronic Crimes Task Forces, which continue to enable USSS to fight cyber-crime by utilizing partnerships with international law enforcement agencies through overseas field offices.

Network Security: DHS fund the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program focused on fortifying the cybersecurity of government networks.

Disaster Relief: DHS provides grants through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to help individuals and communities stricken by disasters respond and recover.

State, Local and Tribal Government Activities: DHS funds a number of other activities vital to homeland security and public safety, including salaries for state and local emergency managers in all 50 states. Examples include new communications equipment for over 80 public safety agencies, surveillance cameras and environmental sensors used to detect in real time potential terrorist activity, and improved campus security at K-12 public schools, colleges and universities.

Impact of DHS Shutdown on Federal Employees

At least 30,000 administrative staff would be furloughed.

200,000 essential employees would be required to work without pay, including:

more than 40,000 Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Patrol officers;

more than 50,000 TSA aviation security screeners;
more than 13,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement law enforcement agents and officers;
more than 40,000 active duty Coast Guard military members; and

more than 4,000 Secret Service law enforcement agents and officers.

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