Department Of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2008
Floor Speech
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (House of Representatives - June 14, 2007)
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Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I actually had a question. I support the spirit and intent of this amendment, and I was hoping to ask a question to the gentleman from New York.
The Acting CHAIRMAN. The gentleman's time has expired.
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
The Acting CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from North Carolina is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to Mr. Israel.
Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I thank the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee for yielding.
I serve on the Appropriations Committee. As I said, I support the spirit and the intent of this amendment. I am concerned that New York City has not effectively advocated for these funds, didn't, in my view, do a sufficient job of alerting the members of the Appropriations Committee to this problem, hasn't lined up its ducks, but I am willing to put that behind us.
I would just ask the gentleman, will the gentleman work with me to pressure New York City to ensure that this agreement is signed? The concern I have is that if it is not signed, it is entirely possible that the bureaucracy at the Department of Homeland Security will take the money meant for New York and send it elsewhere.
So would my very good friend from Long Island, with whom I have a wonderful partnership on so many issues, commit to work with me to pressure the city of New York to get this agreement signed so that the money goes to where it is intended?
Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. I would be happy to yield 30 seconds for a response.
Mr. KING of New York. Yes. I will absolutely assure him that I will work with the city of New York and the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that this money is allocated and used for this purpose and that the agreement be expedited as quickly as possible.
Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman. I understand the concerns he has. I am deeply disappointed in how the city of New York approached the committee or did not approach the committee on this. But I will work closely with the gentleman from Long Island in pressuring the city to conclude this agreement.
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