Lucille Roybal-Allard: “In December of 2014, as leverage against the President's immigration executive action, the Republican leadership…”

“In December of 2014, as leverage against the President's immigration executive action, the Republican leadership irresponsibly decided to hold hostage the 2015 funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Now, 150 days into fiscal year 2015, this House is no closer to addressing the Homeland Security funding needs of this country than it was last December. Instead, the Republican leadership is proposing to, once again, kick the can down the road, this time for another 3 weeks. The serious consequences of the Republican majority's inability to responsibly lead on behalf of the American people will, once again, leave the Department without the 2015 funding levels it needs to effectively fulfill its mission of protecting our homeland. I ask my colleagues: What is gained by continuing to delay resolving this crisis, a crisis of the House Republicans' own making? Does anyone really think circumstances will be any different 3 weeks from now? The judicial review of the President's executive actions will not be resolved in 3 weeks. The only circumstances that will be different in 3 weeks is that much will be lost. Republicans cannot continue to block the Department of Homeland Security funding for 2015 without undermining the national security of this country.…”