DHS Shutdown

Floor Speech

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Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, as I stand before this body today, it is
with a tremendous amount of concern for the brave men and women who are
protecting our country and work for the Department of Homeland
Security. We are only about 48 hours or so away from a potential
shutdown, and I am concerned about these people, who are going to have
to continue to work because they are dedicated, loyal, and patriotic
Americans but won't be getting paid if we allow this government to shut
down.

Now, all we have to do in this House of Representatives is to bring
up a clean Homeland Security funding bill. That is all we have to do.
The Senate majority leader said he would do that. So we can get this
problem solved right away.

This situation is being handled in the courts, and this body of ours,
this House of Representatives, is no place to try to work out some sort
of ideological partisan divide around immigration. This is an occasion
for us to look out after the safety and security of the American people
and to fund and pay the salaries of the workers who guarantee that
security, not a time for partisan ideological chicanery.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up H.R.
861, the clean Department of Homeland Security funding bill that would
keep the Department open so it can carry on its mission of keeping the
American people safe.

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