DHS Shutdown

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, the day after the election, Speaker Boehner and Senator McConnell outlined an agenda for the so-called New American Congress, pledging to focus on the people's priorities. Well, they have obviously failed to deliver on this promise, instead allowing anti-immigrant, rightwing radicals to trump the safety of American families.

Mr. Speaker, recent events around the world provide a stark reminder of the threats we face. Yet amid the rising risks of terrorist attack, Republicans are holding critical Homeland Security funding hostage in a misguided attempt to undermine and roll back key protections for immigrant families.

To quote The Washington Post:

The fervor of Republic partisanship is immune to logic

beyond an insistence on victory at any cost.

In this case, the cost is some 1,500 DHS personnel in Nevada who would be furloughed or forced to work without pay and nearly $10 million in grant funding that Nevada counts on to protect the safety of our citizens and the over 40 million visitors who come to Las Vegas every year. Only 2 days remain until DHS shuts down. I call on Republicans: Stop holding it hostage and let's get to work.

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