DHS Shutdown

Floor Speech

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Mr. HIMES. Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of serving on the House
Intelligence Committee. And just yesterday, in a hearing entitled
``Worldwide Threats,'' I sat with the Chiefs of our Intelligence
Services to learn about those worldwide threats. The meeting was
classified, but the summary is this: there are people out there who
would count it a smashing success to reap death and destruction on the
homeland.

Yet my Republican friends have engineered a situation where, in 2
days, the Department of Homeland Security will shut down. It is not
because they don't have an alternative to get in the way of the
President's immigration initiative. A judge in Texas ruled with them.
Now, I think that judge is going to be overturned, but a judge ruled
with them. Yet they are going to shut down the Department of Homeland
Security.

I don't understand that, but I have got two questions:

If we shut down DHS and, heaven forbid, there is a natural disaster
that destroys a community in Oklahoma or Connecticut, what are we--what
are you going to tell the American people?

If, heaven forbid, one of those people who wishes this Nation ill
succeeds and the Department of Homeland Security is shut down, what
will we--what will you tell the American people?

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