Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) released the following statement after the House Republican leadership refused to put the bipartisan, Senate-passed legislation on the floor that would fully fund the TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, CISA, and other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies that are not involved in executing the Trump administration’s cruel and unconstitutional immigration policies. 

 

“For more than 40 days, Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans have refused to negotiate in good faith with Democrats to reopen DHS and implement urgently needed reforms to ICE and CBP,” said Congresswoman Ross. “In the meantime, hardworking federal employees in North Carolina and across the country have been forced to go without pay, while travelers and families are experiencing chaos at airports nationwide.

 

“This crisis was entirely avoidable, and Congress has the power to end it. The Senate has already passed a bipartisan solution that would immediately fund TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and other essential DHS agencies while allowing Congress to continue working towards essential changes to the way ICE and CBP have been operating. Instead of taking up this commonsense measure, Speaker Johnson and House Republicans would rather watch this dysfunction continue and protect Trump’s extreme immigration agenda.

 

“Democrats are absolutely united in ending this crisis, funding TSA, and protecting communities across the country. It’s time for Speaker Johnson to do the right thing and put the Senate-passed bill on the floor for a vote.”

 

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