Congresswoman Brown Comments on ISIL Suspect Arrested in Jacksonville

Press Release

Congresswoman Brown made the following statement:

"I was deeply concerned to learn that one of the three men arrested and charged with attempt and conspiracy to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and ISIS, was a 30 year old man named Abror Habibov, who operates a cellphone repair kiosk at a mall in Jacksonville. For obvious reasons, I am quite alarmed by the fact that members of this terror organization are planning potential attacks and indoctrinating others into a radical ideology, are living in my community, among my constituents in the city of Jacksonville.

It is ironic that while this very serious threat, as well as others that threaten United States citizens' well-being and security, both domestically and overseas, the Republican Party continues to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security, the very agency which is responsible for defending our people!

And despite dire warnings from Members of their own Party, House Republicans time and time again have voted to block a clean funding bill that could keep our communities safer. Certainly, our national security is too important and the world is far too dangerous for the Republican Congress to play these irresponsible, reckless games. Instead of sending a clean DHS funding bill to the Senate and on to the President, House Republicans have until now chosen to continue gambling with America's homeland security.

Without action in by Friday, the bulk of DHS's management and support of the homeland security infrastructure that was built following the 9/11 terrorist attacks would be shuttered. Law enforcement officials, border patrol agents, disaster response officials, counterterrorism experts and other DHS personnel that help keep our nation safe would either be furloughed or required to work without pay.

Consequences of a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security include: closing the DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, which would no longer alert and coordinate with local law enforcement agencies, and withholding the Securing the Cities grants that pay for critical nuclear detection capabilities in cities across the country; halting Research and Development work on countermeasures to devastating biological threats, on nuclear detection equipment, and on cargo and passenger screening technologies; crippling FEMA's preparations for future disasters, furloughing 22 percent of FEMA personnel; and ending FEMA training activities with local law enforcement for Weapons of Mass Destruction events.

Certainly, providing funding to the Department of Homeland Security is essential to keeping our nation safe and defending our citizens from nefarious threats such as the one posed by the three people arrested this week. Beyond a doubt, the Republican Party's holding the security of our homeland hostage is irresponsible, dangerous, and inconsistent with their pledge to protect and defend America and to keep U.S. citizens safe."

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