Rep. Norma Torres Introduces Amendments to Deliver Disaster Relief, Protect Children and Veterans, and Demand Accountability in Homeland Security Funding

Rep. Norma Torres Introduces Amendments to Deliver Disaster Relief, Protect Children and Veterans, and Demand Accountability in Homeland Security Funding

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Norma Torres introduced a package of amendments to the fiscal year 2026 Homeland Security funding bill to deliver urgent disaster relief, protect children and veterans, increase public safety, and ensure accountability and transparency in how taxpayer dollars are spent. The House Rules Committee rejected all of Congresswoman Torres's proposed amendments.

"As Congress debates homeland security funding, we have a responsibility to protect people, stop ICE and CBP's abuses of the law and our Constitution, and to spend taxpayer dollars wisely, transparently, and lawfully," said Congresswoman Torres. "These amendments prioritize disaster recovery, children's safety, veterans' rights, constitutional protections, and public safety while demanding real accountability for where this money goes."

Representative Torres Amendments include:

• Amendment #1 would provide $16.8 billion in emergency FEMA funding to help communities recover from major disasters in 2025, including wildfires, floods, storms, and tornadoes across at least 20 states, ensuring FEMA has the resources to respond quickly and effectively when families need help most.

• Amendment #2 would block any funding from being used to dismantle or undermine the Flores Settlement Agreement, which sets basic, court-ordered protections for children in immigration custody such as safe conditions and limits on detention time.

• Amendment #3 would prohibit the deportation of non-citizen U.S. military veterans unless they are provided legal counsel and a full, fair hearing, and requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress on veteran deportation cases.

• Amendment #4 would require ICE to notify local law enforcement of operations within their jurisdictions, improving safety for officers and communities and preventing dangerous confusion during enforcement actions.

• Amendment #5 would introduce the Fairness to Freedom Act, which would provide funding to ensure legal representation for all immigration detainees, protecting constitutional rights and due process while promoting fairness and efficiency in the system.

These amendments underscore Rep. Torres' broader concern with the annual funding proposal that would provide $64.4 billion to DHS, on top of money previously provided in the Big, Ugly bill last year.

"We should not be writing a blank check," Torres said. "Funding decisions should be made with transparency and rigorous oversight, and should prioritize programs that actually keep people safe like disaster response, TSA, and community-focused security. We should not be handing out more money to ICE when they have too often terrorized communities without delivering real security."

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