Walberg Votes for the Third Time to Fund the Department of Homeland Security

Today, Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-05) voted for the Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act, which would reopen and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. This marks the third vote by Congressman Walberg to ensure full funding for the salaries of the men and women on the front lines, including the Border Patrol, Transportation and Security Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, and Secret Service. The legislation was passed by a vote of 218-206.

"The Department of Homeland Security carries out a critical mission to ensure the safety of our communities, especially during a time of heightened global tensions and increased and evolving terror threats," said Rep. Walberg. "The Department's current 41-day shutdown is jeopardizing essential services like TSA, the Coast Guard, and FEMA. My constituents, many of whom are recovering from this month's devastating tornadoes, deserve these vital services. I urge Senate Democrats to support this funding, which was negotiated in a bipartisan manner, to reopen the Department and ensure our homeland defenders are treated like the essential personnel they are, not political pawns by Democrats."

Background

• On January 19, the House Appropriations Committee announced the conferenced Department of Homeland Security funding bill that was negotiated on a bipartisan, bicameral basis.
• On January 22, House Republicans passed this full-year funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security.
• Democrats voted against this previously negotiated bill in the Senate on February 12.
• On February 14, the Department of Homeland Security shut down, impacting FEMA, the Coast Guard, Secret Service, CISA, and other critical security operations.
• On March 5, House Republicans voted again to pass a full-year funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security.