February 26, 2015

Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s First District today spoke on the House Floor to call on her Republican colleagues to pass legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS will run out of funding and be forced to shut down on February 27th unless Congress passes legislation authorizing continued funding.  Below are her remarks:

“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, right-wing radicals to trump the safety of American families.

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

“To quote the Washington Post, ‘the fervor of Republican 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 dollars 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 two days remain until DHS shuts down. I call on my Republican colleagues: Stop holding our national security hostage and let’s get to work.”