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Tonko Cosponsors Clean Bill to Keep Department of Homeland Security Open

Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) this week cosponsored H.R. 861, a clean funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The legislation would keep DHS open through the end of the fiscal year, preventing a February 28th shutdown of the agency charged with coordinating efforts to prevent and respond to acts of terrorism on American soil. The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a funding bill last month, but the legislation included several partisan, hyper-political messaging amendments that the Republican-led Senate rejected.

Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) this week cosponsored H.R. 861, a clean funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The legislation would keep DHS open through the end of the fiscal year, preventing a February 28th shutdown of the agency charged with coordinating efforts to prevent and respond to acts of terrorism on American soil. The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a funding bill last month, but the legislation included several partisan, hyper-political messaging amendments that the Republican-led Senate rejected.

 

Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has since said that “the next move, obviously, is up to the House” to keep DHS open and Americans safe through the fiscal year.

 

IN THE EVENT OF A DHS SHUTDOWN, the following employees – charged with the security of our nation – would go without pay, creating a significant distraction and dealing a blow to morale:

·        More than 40,000 Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers;

·        More than 50,000 TSA aviation security screeners;

·        More than 13,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and officers;

·        More than 40,000 active duty Coast Guard military members;

·        More than 4,000 Secret Service law enforcement agents and officers.

“Political security should not come before national security, and that is exactly what we’ve seen from the House so far in the new year,”said Tonko. “A growing chorus of my friends on the Republican side of the aisle are urging the extreme members of their caucus to stop the political games and get to work for the people that elected us to represent them. That is why I am proud to cosponsor this bill and offer an opportunity to House Leadership to abandon these political games and ensure that we can continue to protect our borders. Time is running out, and this obstructionism has to stop.”

 

On Wednesday, House Republicans unanimously voted to block consideration of the clean bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. After February 13, there are only 14 calendar days and 4 legislative days until the Department of Homeland Security shuts down, closing down the bulk of DHS’s management and support of the critical infrastructure that was built following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

 

Consequences of a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security include: shuttering 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.

 

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