VIDEO: Kilmer Calls on House to Approve Funding for the Department of Homeland Security
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) called for the House of Representatives to approve funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In a speech on the House floor, Kilmer highlighted the impacts a DHS shutdown could have on federal workers and emergency services in Washington state.
Without Congressional action, DHS will run out of funds for its budget on February 27. In Washington state there are more than 6,000 DHS employees and in Kilmer’s district there are five Coast Guard stations.
Video of Kilmer’s speech available here.
“We have to move away from this kind of dysfunctional government and get back to legislating,” said Kilmer in his remarks prepared for delivery. “That’s what the American people sent us here to do. And this current fight is exhibit number one for why folks don’t think Congress works for them. Folks I represent want to see a government that is responsive, provides needed services, and supports economic growth.”
Kilmer’s remarks as prepared for delivery follow.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on the House to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
And avoid an unnecessary shutdown.
Instead of having a real debate about fixing a broken immigration system, Congress is putting government operations that serve the people we represent at risk.
And it’s playing politics with the livelihoods of our federal workers.
I’ve always said that threatening to shut down a federal agency because you disagree with the President’s actions is an irresponsible approach.
We have got to move away from this kind of dysfunctional government and get back to legislating.
That’s what the American people sent us here to do. And this current fight is exhibit number one for why folks don’t think Congress works for them.
Folks I represent want to see a government that is responsive, provides needed services, and supports economic growth.
Mr. Speaker, folks in my region deal in reality.
Earlier this year residents and businesses in the cities of Aberdeen and Hoquiam, and Grays Harbor County were swamped by heavy rains.
Mudslides and flooding put people’s lives at risk and took a toll on the neighborhoods they call home.
Local officials were looking for help, and they got it when the Homeland Security Region 3 Incident Management Team came to town.
This team worked with locals on the ground to execute the best recovery plan to get people back on their feet.
Are we willing to tell workers like that, who lend a hand at a moment’s notice – to go without pay or take a furlough? And are we willing to tell communities in need that when they call for help there is no one there?
14 percent of the Department’s workforce is facing furloughs. This isn’t an invisible workforce. These are staffers who administer grants to local governments, fire departments, and other emergency responders after devastating storms.
These are the people who are helping the Management Teams that are on the ground in places like Hoquiam, Washington.
That staff will not be available to process emergency requests, won’t be able to do their jobs, because Congress decided not to do its job.
Then we should also consider the over eighty percent of Homeland Security employees who will stay on without pay.
What kind of message are we sending members of our Coast Guard, our Border Patrol, or the Department when we tell them to work without pay?
Mortgage payment, still have to pay.
Utility bills, still do.
Grocery bills, still have to eat.
But paycheck, sorry.
Yes, it’s true. If the crew of a ship faced trouble in Washington state’s waters, the Coast Guard would still swing into action.
But that crew wouldn’t get paid for their work and some of their support staff might not be back at headquarters to help them.
I’ve already heard from members of the Coast Guard, spouses of Department employees, and everyday citizens worried about how this will impact our communities and our national security.
Because in my home state of Washington there are more than 6,000 Department workers and we have five Coast Guard stations alone in my region.
Shutdowns like this send out ripple effects into local economies.
When workers aren’t getting paid, or their pay is delayed, sacrifices are made.
Less money is spent at the grocery store, Friday night dinners out are stopped, family vacations are canceled or delayed. There are impacts to local restaurants, hotels, and small businesses.
We’ve seen this movie before. Businesses everywhere take a hit when the customers they rely are not sure when exactly there next paycheck will come.
Finally, we don’t motivate our federal workforce by engaging in these stunts.
We are proud of our federal workforce in my region. But too often, Congress does not let them know what they do is important.
Too often, they are a bargaining chip for a political fight.
I came to Congress to give people confidence that their government was not broken. That it is staffed with workers dedicated to making a meaningful impact in their lives and in the lives of American citizens.
We will not see qualified and motivated folks join a workforce that faces continuous threats to the job they do every day. When the message to our workers and local businesses is that politics is more important than their paychecks.
I want to mention that yesterday former Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, said that this shutdown was wrong and folly. These are soldiers at DHS, he said. They wear a different uniform but the goal and objective and mission is the same, keeping America as safe as possible.
Mr. Speaker let’s keep America safe and let’s reject this shutdown.
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