Chairman John Carter (R-TX31) led the full-committee markup yesterday morning of the FY15 Homeland Security bill that prioritizes enforcement and fiscal responsibility.  The House Appropriations Committee approved the funding bill by a bipartisan voice vote.

“I am proud to have put together a strong bill with a dual focus on our national security and border enforcement. Once again President Obama gave us an inadequate and poorly justified budget request, which we now must rectify,” said Congressman John Carter, Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee. “This bill restores the deep and irresponsible cuts the President has made to critical law enforcement operations across DHS.  It ensures our men and women working to keep Americans safe and enforce our laws have the resources they need to carry out their vital duties and defend our homeland.” 

“The President’s confusing policies and lack of enforcement have created a crisis at our border. Thousands of unaccompanied alien children are being smuggled across our Southwest border by the cartels every day and it must be stopped. This bill seeks to address this crisis and offset all costs needed to provide our law enforcement with the resources they need to correct the President’s flawed and reckless policies.”

The bill provides $39.2 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Homeland Security, prioritizing funds to first and foremost secure the border. The bill invests in the fights against cyber-attacks, illegal narcotics, and human trafficking. It reinforces the requirement for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to maintain 34,000 detention beds for illegal aliens, prevents federal funds from being used to perform abortions, and prohibits the President from moving terrorists into the United States from Guantanamo Bay.

The following amendments to the bill were approved by the full committee today:

Rep. Carter– The amendment made technical and other non-controversial changes and additions to the report. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Aderholt– The amendment restates current law prohibiting federal funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide for abortions, except in certain life-threatening cases, rape, and incest. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 29-18.

Rep. Roybal-Allard– The amendment allows funding to be used for death benefits of a Transportation Security Officer killed in the line of duty in 2013. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

For the complete text of the FY 2015 Subcommittee Draft Homeland Security Appropriations bill, please visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bills-113hr-sc-ap-fy2015-hsecurity-subcommitteedraft.pdf