Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise in opposition to the confirmation of Troy Edgar to be Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Homeland Security. The nominee would have authority over the transfer and reprogramming of funds within the Department of Homeland Security. While he has pledged to notify Congress in advance of any such action, this administration has made it clear that it will continue to use every available tool to fund the wall that President Trump said Mexico would pay for and his administration's abusive immigrant detention policies. For that reason, any nominee to this position merits heightened scrutiny. I am alarmed by rampant overcrowding and squalid conditions in DHS detention facilities. Despite DHS IG reports and numerous congressional inquiries and hearings, the Department has consistently mismanaged these facilities and shown a disregard for the care of those in its custody. To date, 674 detainees and 39 detention facility personnel have tested positive for COVID-19. Notwithstanding its failure to ensure the safety of its facility personnel and detainees, the Department has continued to use its transfer and reprogramming authority to increase the number of detention beds. Last August, DHS transferred or reprogrammed $271 million, including $155 million from the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund, to expand ICE operations at the southern border. A promise to notify Congress does nothing to stop these activities.…”