Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, in 3 short days, absent congressional action, funding for the Department of Homeland Security will lapse and the Department will be forced to shut down. Should this be allowed, the vast majority of the DHS workforce will be required to work without pay until a funding agreement is reached. The remainder--more than 30,000 dedicated individuals--will be furloughed with no guarantee of backpay. Congress must act immediately to enact legislation that would fully fund the Department and allow these men and women who live and work in every district in every State to continue to carry out the critical message of keeping our Nation healthy, safe, and strong. But in the absence of such action, with time running dangerously short, DHS employees, at the very least, must be assured that there is an agreement in Congress that they will receive their full pay in a fair and timely manner. That is why I, along with my friend and colleague from Virginia (Mr. Wittman), have introduced the DHS Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act. This bipartisan proposal ensures that all Federal DHS employees receive retroactive pay for the duration of any shutdown, regardless of furlough status. Madam Speaker, as we wait for Congress to do its job, we should not stop the men and women of DHS from doing theirs. We must guarantee they receive pay and that they not become collateral damage of Congress' refusal to reach an agreement. ____________________”