Further Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to register my disbelief that Republicans are continuing to use funding for the Department of Homeland Security as a political football. Every single member of the Democratic Caucus is a cosponsor of a clean, full-year funding bill, a bill that would be sure to pass if House leaders were to allow it to come to the floor. Across the Capitol, the Senate has already passed a clean bill. And yet House Republicans continue to insist that their political priorities take precedence over the operations of an agency vital to our national security.

I am a member of the Committee on Homeland Security. Over the past few weeks, I have heard testimony highlighting the threat that we face from violent extremists, particularly those radicalized in the U.S. I have heard testimony about the pervasiveness of the cyber threat to our nation, particularly to our critical infrastructure. And I have heard how DHS plays a vital role in ensuring we can protect against and respond to these threats.

Trying to implement strategies to protect our homeland security on a three-week time frame is simply absurd. Republicans created this funding crisis by refusing to approve a bipartisan agreement in December, and Republican action today is prolonging it. I hope that the majority will cease their political gamesmanship well before their new deadline and join with Democrats in passing a clean bill.

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