DHS Shutdown

Floor Speech

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Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge House Republican
leadership to put a clean bill to fund the Department of Homeland
Security on the floor for a vote.

It is our job to lead this great Nation, and America deserves better
than political gamesmanship. The threats facing our country are real.
The Department of Homeland Security is on the front lines making sure
our communities are safe. They secure our boarders and ports and ensure
airports are safe for millions of travelers.

If Congress fails to fund DHS, 169,000 Border Patrol agents, Customs
and Border Protection officers, TSA aviation and security screeners,
and Active Duty Coast Guard military will report to work but will not
receive a paycheck. And that is just wrong.

I joined several of my colleagues this week to introduce legislation
to withhold congressional pay if Homeland Security is shut down. It is
simple: if the hardworking men and women in the Department of Homeland
Security will continue to go to work but not receive a paycheck,
Members of Congress who have failed to do their job should not receive
a paycheck either.

Let's do the right thing. Cleanly fund our Homeland Security and quit
political gamesmanship.

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