Calling on Republicans to Pass Homeland Security Budget

Press Release

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree called on House Republicans today to pass a budget for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which expires Friday at midnight. In a speech on the House floor, Pingree talked about the thousands of Homeland Security personnel who will go without pay unless a bill is passed by Friday. Pingree said 40,000 TSA employees and 50,000 Border Patrol agents and officers would stop getting paychecks, as well as 40,000 active duty Coast Guard members, who she said are engaged in essential operations like icebreaking to keep ports in Maine and around the country open.

"And it's not just the people who keep us safe--it's FEMA. Just like much of the country, we've suffered from one of the hardest winters in memory in Maine, but if DHS is shut down then FEMA will not be able to process any new disaster relief applications from the states," Pingree said on the House floor.

Republicans have opposed a straight DHS funding bill, and haveinstead held it hostage to conservative House members who have demanded that it include restrictions on President Obama's immigration reforms.

"This winter has created a crisis for many state and local governments. Let's not add to that with a manufactured crisis of our own by forcing DHS to shut down because some people don't like President Obama's immigration policies," Pingree said. "We have the votes to pass a bill to fund DHS. Just let us vote on it."

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