DHS Shutdown

Floor Speech

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Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the millions of
Americans who are concerned about the state of our national security.
In today's world, we face many threats from foreign enemies who intend
to do us harm. Americans expect that Congress will fulfill its duty to
act in the best interests of those we serve. The question of whether or
not to fund the Department of Homeland Security should never even be up
for debate. I respect the difference of opinions some of my colleagues
hold with respect to the President's recent executive action on
immigration. But taking hostage a funding bill that is intended to keep
American families safe in order to get what you want is reckless, and
it is not the way this body was intended to function.

Let's pass a clean DHS funding bill, and then let's have a serious
debate on immigration. We need to find a comprehensive solution to our
immigration challenges, and the only way to do that is by working
together to pass a bipartisan bill. Let's utilize this Chamber to
debate and pass meaningful legislation, and let's start right now by
approving the Department of Homeland Security funding for the remainder
of the fiscal year.

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