VIDEO: Rep. Carter speaking at press conference

Rep. John Carter (R-TX31), Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, joined more than 10 Republican House and Senate members today, calling for passage of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The House of Representatives passed Chairman Carter’s DHS Appropriations bill last month. The bill funds the Department of Homeland Security for 2015 which includes $39.7 billion in discretionary funding to keep Americans safe. The bill also includes language that prohibits DHS from implementing the President’s overreaching executive action on amnesty.

“This is my bill.  We took this bill through regular order in the House, we conferenced with the staff in the Senate, we made the changes that everybody agreed to, and we put out a great Homeland Security bill to protect the national security of this nation,” said Chairman Carter.  “This is serious business and its time the Senate Democrats wake up and realize our national security and  American lives are at stake. The Democrat-led Senate had a part in putting this bill together, and it’s time for them to step up, do the right thing, and have a debate. Let’s get this thing done before the deadline so we don’t harm those who defend our national security.”

“All of us in the House and Senate are here united telling Senate Democrats ‘do not shut down the Department of Homeland Security’. We are in a time of growing threats at home and abroad and for Senate Democrats in a partisan vote to filibuster funding for the Department of Homeland Security is both reckless and irresponsible. The House of Representatives have done its job, it is voted on funding for DHS. And Senate Democrats are playing partisan politics with our national security by preventing the Senate from even taking up that funding bill,” Senator Ted Cruz said during the press conference.

“The House acted earlier this year to pass a responsible bill to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security and to stop the President’s unlawful, unconstitutional amnesty actions. Where do we stand verses the American people on this? Fifty-six percent of Americans think the President’s actions were improper. The President himself said publically stated at least 22 times that he doesn’t have the authority to do what he did in November. We have seven Democrats who have said the same thing. I have one message, and I am sure my colleagues share the same message: Senate Democrats, do your job. Uphold the oath that you took to defend the Constitution,” said Rep. Flores, Republican Study Committee Chairman (TX-17).

The House members present at the press conference were: Rep. John Carter (R-TX), Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX), Chairman, Republican Study Committee, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC), Rep. Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). The Senate members present at the press conference were: Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Chairman, Senate Steering Committee, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL).

Highlights of Rep. Carter’s DHS Appropriations Bill:

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

• Includes- 10.7 billion for CBP to support the largest operational force levels in history – 21,370 Border Patrol agents and 23,775 CBP officers.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 

• Includes- $5.96 billion for ICE.
• Includes- $3.4 billion for ICE detention programs. The increase will sustain 34,000 detention beds and increase family detention beds by 3,732.
• Includes- $1.9 billion for domestic and international investigations to combat human trafficking, child exploitation, cyber-crime, and drug smuggling, and to expand visa vetting capabilities.
• Funds to fully finance E-Verify, a program that helps companies check if their employees may legally work in the United States.

Oversight

• The legislation requires that DHS submit comprehensive spending plans to Congress to increase transparency and congressional and public oversight.

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