Lucille Roybal-Allard: “Woman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chairwoman, I want to make it clear that I support the original…”

“Woman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chairwoman, I want to make it clear that I support the original bipartisan Homeland Security bill and oppose the majority's radical anti-immigrant amendments. These amendments pollute the bipartisan bill both Republicans and Democrats have carefully crafted to protect the American people. Our clean Homeland Security bill provides the funds needed to protect our country. It invests in border security and prioritizes the detention and deportation of dangerous criminals. The clean, bipartisan Homeland Security bill provides funds for new grants to State and local first responders, who are our first line of defense against homegrown terrorism. It invests in the Coast Guard's eighth National Security Cutter and additional Fast Response Cutters to help protect our ports. The bill also provides critical funds to hire new Secret Service agents to make essential security improvements at the White House. These are just a few examples of why this bill is so important. Unfortunately, instead of bringing the clean, bipartisan bill for a vote, the majority is proposing several poison pill amendments that will jeopardize the bill's ability to become law. It is unconscionable to put our Nation's security at risk simply for the purpose of appeasing those who want to undermine President Obama's reasonable and lawful executive action to fix our broken immigration system in light of the fact that this House has not acted.…”