On the recordFebruary 18, 2011
I rise in strong opposition to this amendment, which reduces funding for the Department of Homeland Security by 3 rac{1}{2} percent. Under the CR, funding for Homeland Security is already 3 percent below the 2010 enacted level. The $1.56 billion in supplemental disaster needs funded in this bill already cuts deep into Homeland Security programs. An additional 3.5 percent reduction would dangerously weaken our security. If this reduction were adopted, critical programs such as border security, disaster relief, immigration enforcement, and transportation security would no longer be shielded from ill-advised cuts. The Department would be required to lay off critical staff we have hired over the past 2 years, including Border Patrol agents, CBP officers at the ports of entry, ICE investigators along the southwest border, and the Secret Service agents that respond to heightened threats against the President. This reduction would mean the Department would need to abandon critical technology procurements that would better protect our aviation and transit system against possible attacks. In short, this amendment is ill advised in the extreme. I urge Members to vote 'no.'
