Murray Calls Out Republicans for Again Blocking Bill to Fund TSA, FEMA, & Cyber Defense Agency

Senate Republicans once again block Murray's bill to fund everything at DHS but ICE and Border Patrol, as they drag their feet on common-sense reforms to protect Americans from violence at the hands of ICE

Murray : "Democrats are not going to write a blank check for rogue agencies that are trampling on the rights of Americans. Nor are we going to accept the premise that the only way to fund TSA or disaster relief is by giving money to ICE. That's absurd."

Murray : "Here's the simple truth: if Republicans agreed to simple reforms, all of DHS could be funded tomorrow. And if Republicans stopped blocking the bill I just offered, TSA could be funded today."

***WATCH : Senator Murray's floor remarks***

Washington, D.C. - Senate Republicans once again blocked straightforward legislation to fund every agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-except Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Office of the Secretary. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to slam Republicans for dragging their feet in ongoing negotiations over common-sense reforms to rein in ICE and Border Patrol.

Senator Murray sought unanimous consent to pass her legislation to fund DHS agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and other important DHS functions while talks on ICE and CBP proceed.

Yet again, Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) blocked Senator Murray's request to pass the legislation.

While negotiations on ICE and CBP proceed, Senator Murray's bill:

• Funds FEMA, TSA, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Secret Service, CISA, and other important DHS components.
• Excludes funding for ICE, CBP, and the Office of the Secretary.
  

Senator Murray's remarks, as delivered, are below:

"M. President, it's extremely frustrating to me that despite all their talk about how important it is we fund TSA, and FEMA, and CISA, and more-and despite Republicans' own acknowledgement that they already funded ICE and Border Patrol with their big reconciliation, I call it the big ugly bill, from last summer-now Republicans are unwilling to work with us to fund some of these programs that keep Americans safe, while we keep trying to get somewhere on ICE and Border Patrol accountability.

"Worse than that-they are acting like they have no idea why Democrats are not willing to accept the premise that to fund TSA, we have to cut some blank check for ICE.

"Republicans are acting like they didn't see the same awful footage of Renee Good and Alex Pretti getting shot in cold blood. Republicans are acting like they don't remember that little boy in the bunny hat arrested like some violent criminal. Republicans are acting like they don't remember the family that got tear gassed on the way back from a basketball game, or the American citizen marched out of his house, in the freezing cold, in his underwear.

"As a reminder because apparently Republicans need it: The Senate has had at least two hearings on this since Alex Pretti was murdered by CBP officers. And with a couple of exceptions, we have not heard any Republicans in those hearings suggest they want to work with us on reforming the agencies and reining in DHS.

"And yet, some Republicans, are acting like they have no idea why we are demanding things like body cameras, visible identification, adequate training standards, and basic standards, as the senator just spoke about-same as our local police-on things like use of force and requiring warrants before some agents smashes in your door and drags someone away.

"Republicans know exactly what Democrats have been asking for, because weeks ago, Democrats provided Speaker Johnson and Leader Thune a list of ten critical reforms needed to pass the Homeland Security bill.

"Unfortunately, Republicans have been saying no on many of these items-as far back as last year. Or in some cases, first, they would say 'Sure we'll work with you,' and then Stephen Miller and the White House would get involved and Republicans would say, 'never mind!'

"Last year-Democrats were already talking about many of the reforms we are talking about today. In July, some of us introduced a bill calling for no masks and for clear identification.

"And then we saw federal agents shoot citizens and lie about it, like in the case of Marimar Martinez. And we heard horror stories of masked agents dragging away American citizens for no reason.

"One American citizen was dragged off and detained twice. Not charged with any crime. Not arrested with a warrant. Just picked off his worksite-until ICE realized he was a citizen. That happened twice to the same guy!

"That's exactly why Democrats had been saying-let's take off the masks, we cannot have unaccountable agents. But Republicans said no to that idea.

"And then the world watched, as Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent, and denied any medical care-something even the most basic training-to say nothing of morals-should have told officers was wrong.

"So, Democrats pushed in our DHS funding negotiations, we said-this is exactly the kind of thing we are gravely concerned about. We need serious reforms and accountability. Still, Republicans said no.

"Then an innocent man, an American citizen, was dragged out of his home in the freezing cold in his underwear. Agents refused to even look at his ID which showed-they had completely the wrong guy. And yet when Democrats pushed to require real judicial warrants, Republicans said no.

"A little boy in bunny ears was ripped away from his home for absolutely no reason, Republicans said no.

"A family on their way home from a basketball game was tear gassed. Republicans said no.

"A woman on the way to a doctor's appointment had her window smashed-she was dragged out of her car, Republicans said no.

"And Alex Pretti was tackled to the ground and shot in the back several times by federal agents-another completely unjustified killing. A murder of an American citizen. And the Trump Administration tried to slander him as a terrorist!

"For a moment, even some Republicans said that was concerning, that was unacceptable, that was wrong. But we all know what's ultimately happened: Republicans have, for weeks now, refused some pretty basic steps to make these agencies accountable. Once again-Republicans have said no.

"Well-the American people are not going to take 'no' for an answer.

"Stephen Miller is not above the Constitution. Donald Trump is not a king who can just sic an army of masked thugs on whatever city he wants to punish next.

"And Democrats are not going to write a blank check for rogue agencies that are trampling on the rights of Americans. Nor are we going to accept the premise that the only way to fund TSA or disaster relief is by giving money to ICE. That's absurd.

"Now, some on the other side are claiming that the bill I just offered would defund Customs-or Homeland Security Investigations. M. President, that too is absurd.

"All the bill I just offered does is fund the rest of DHS while talks continue on ICE and Border Patrol-and the simple fact is Republicans have already funded these agencies when they gave them more money, than most militaries by the way, in their Big Ugly Bill.

"And Republicans' latest tactic-trying to use a war as leverage against accountability for Americans is just plain wrong. It's cynical and it is utterly transparent.

"We are not going to give Trump a pass on citizens getting shot and killed here in America, just because he singlehandedly chose to start a war that has led to Americans being killed across the globe as well.

"Who in the world thought that argument would fly? Did Stephen Miller tell Republicans two wrongs make a right here? Did you think that was going to convince anybody?

"Look-we are going to hold Trump accountable for his reckless war, and we are going to hold him accountable for using ICE to terrorize American cities.

"As for the rest of DHS that does important work to keep Americans safe like FEMA, Coast Guard, TSA, Democrats are here, we are trying to fund those agencies-while ICE and Border Patrol negotiations continue. But, Republicans will neither agree to the reforms we need to rein in ICE and protect Americans nor fund the rest of DHS while those talks continue.

"Here's the simple truth: if Republicans agreed to simple reforms, all of DHS could be funded tomorrow. And if Republicans stopped blocking the bill that I just offered, TSA could be funded today.

"But Republicans don't want to take serious action to prevent rogue government agencies from gunning down American citizens, we just heard that on the floor from several Republican senators who spoke. They don't want to take new steps to make sure masked federal agents don't kidnap people off the street. They don't want to pass legislation to make sure federal agents only target people who they have a judicial warrant for-instead of breaking down windows and dragging away completely innocent people. That is the crux of the problem right now.

"Let me state that again: the problem right now is not a lack of communication between both the sides-that's absurd-the problem is a lack of willingness on the part of Republicans to pass some pretty basic reforms-or to even fund the rest of DHS while talks continue.

"Republicans don't want to protect Americans from rogue ICE agents. You know how I know that? Just listen to what they said-and what they didn't say-right here on the floor.

"Are Republicans talking about the fact American citizens have been gunned down by ICE and Border Patrol? Are Republicans talking about the fact that peaceful protesters are being tear gassed, or pepper sprayed, or tackled to the ground?

"Not a word about that right here.If Republicans cannot talk about the obvious, blatant abuse we have all see from ICE and Border Patrol, how do they expect to work with us to address that? The answer is they don't.

"Instead, they are pretending this is about FEMA-which I've offered to fund, or TSA-which I've offered to fund, or CISA-which I've offered to fund, and they are pretending this is about ICE funds running low-even after Republicans spent weeks acknowledging the agency has plenty of funding left from their Big Ugly Bill.

"What this debate actually is about is accountability. It is long past time Republicans get serious about that."

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