Political Quotes

“Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in opposition to the majority's Homeland Security appropriations bill for 2025. First, I want to start by acknowledging the hard work of those who are serving on the front lines at the Department of Homeland Security. They are making sacrifices every day to protect this country, and I am committed to recognizing that. Many of the policies I pushed to have included in the bill acknowledge both the challenges and obstacles these men and women face. For example, today's bill includes key priorities that focus on expanding employee wellness and suicide prevention programs, including funding additional wellness centers that build upon the successes of the El Paso pilot, providing resources to increase accountability at the Coast Guard as we work to protect cadets from sexual harassment and assault, and improving access to contraceptives for Coast Guard servicemembers and their family members. However, despite these silver linings, the fiscal year 2025 Homeland Security appropriations bill put forward by Republicans falls short of addressing our country's real and urgent needs. The legislation not only increases funding for inhumane, costly, and ineffective responses to the humanitarian crisis at our border, but it also cuts $2.1 billion to border security operations, including the complete elimination of the shelter and services program and the critical resources our U.S.…”