Top Dem Slams Republicans for Endangering the American People by Forcing DHS To Shut Down

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Last updated on September 25th, 2023 at 02:46 pm

Squinting into the searingly bright sunlight this morning, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Members of the House Democratic Caucus called on Republicans to honor their sacred oath to protect the American people, warning Republicans that they only have four legislative days left before the Department of Homeland Security shuts down.

In response to House Republicans wondering why (and if) they have to pass a clean bill, Pelosi explained, “(F)orcing the Department of Homeland Security to shut down endangers the American people.”

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“Good morning, everyone. Today, House Democrats gather on the steps of the Capitol to demand immediate action to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Next week, there will be only four legislative days left until the Department of Homeland Security shuts down. Twice this week, House Republicans have voted to block funding for a clean Department of Homeland Security bill to restore long term security to America’s families.

“Four days left: the clock is ticking. When asked whether the House would take up the DHS spending bill, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said: ‘Why do we have to?’ Here’s why: forcing the Department of Homeland Security to shut down endangers the American people. Republicans must stop holding our homeland security hostage to their anti-immigrant grandstanding, and honor our sacred oath we take – all of us – the oath we all take: to support and defend the Constitution and the American people.

“Now, I’m pleased to turn it over to Congresswoman Roybal-Allard. She and Congresswoman Lowey are the authors of the clean funding of the Homeland Security bill. Thank you for your leadership, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard.”

Republicans have been playing a game of chicken between the House and Senate now that they are in charge of both chambers, with each tossing the hot potato to the other chamber and throwing their hands up in despair, refusing to take responsibility for the need to pass a clean funding bill. Conservatives in the House still believe that it’s no biggie to shut down homeland security, while vulnerable Republicans in the Senate are side eying bad poll numbers and getting queasy.

Republicans promised that if they had control of both chambers, things would be getting done — no more obstruction from them! But here we are, six weeks into their “leadership”, and we have but one law to show for it and a whole lot of dysfunction and puzzling self-inflicted wounds.

Sarah Jones

Listen to Sarah on the PoliticusUSA Pod on The Daily newsletter podcast here.

Sarah has been credentialed to cover President Barack Obama, then VP Joe Biden, 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and exclusively interviewed Speaker Nancy Pelosi multiple times and exclusively covered her first home appearance after the first impeachment of then President Donald Trump.

Sarah is two-time Telly award winning video producer and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.

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