Versions of this release were sent to the districts of approximately 60 vulnerable Republicans.
After squandering multiple opportunities to keep the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fully running, Congresswoman Martha McSally left today for a week-long vacation.
The funding for the Department expires at the end of February, and by leaving town, the Republicans will only allow for four work days to pass the critical legislation. If Republicans continue this course, the Department of Homeland Security will shut down.
“Instead of insisting that Republican leadership keep Congress in session to deal with this impending crisis, Congresswoman McSally hightailed it out of town,” said Matt Thornton of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Clearly Congresswoman McSally is more interested in playing a game of political chicken than working to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from shutting down.”
By continuing this reckless course, Republicans are threating the following:
Most DHS Employees Would be Forced to Work Without Pay While 30,000 Would be Furloughed During Shutdown. “Of the more than 230,000 employees who work for DHS, the vast majority — around 200,000 — would continue to work, but without paychecks. […]But a shutdown could deal a blow to department morale, which is an especially delicate question at DHS. Surveys from the Office of Personnel Management consistently show that the department ranks dead last when employees are asked if they intend to remain working there. The remaining 30,000 employees — primarily DHS headquarters and administrative staff — would be furloughed during the shutdown, and not allowed to report to work.” [The Hill, 2/06/15]
State and Local Law Enforcement and Emergency Grants Would be Suspended During Shutdown. “Many state and local law enforcement and emergency agencies rely on federal grants facilitated through DHS for hiring new employees and purchasing new equipment. But under a shutdown, all non-disaster related grant programs would be suspended. According to documents obtained by the Washington Post, the department gave some $31 billion in grants between 2003 and 2010, including $3.8 billion in 2010 alone.” [The Hill, 2/06/15]
Shutdown Would Hurt Plans for Security Priorities- Like Bettering Border Detention Facilities, Investing in New Surveillance and Delivering New Coast Guard Boats. “At a December House hearing, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson detailed the possible effects of funding DHS for only a few months. […] For example, a presidential-election cycle is starting, but DHS can’t hire more Secret Service agents. Funding for enhanced detention capabilities in Texas will be hindered, Johnson told the committee—at least until the department is funded through fiscal 2015. Additionally, investing in new border surveillance would be put on hold. DHS’s non-disaster grants, which go to state and local municipalities, will go unfunded. And the budget uncertainty could potentially delay the delivery of a National Security Cutter, which is the centerpiece of the Coast Guard’s fleet, according to a DHS official.” [National Journal, 1/05/15]
E-Verify- Effort to Ensure Employers Hire Legal Residents- Would be Halted During Shutdown. “The one immigration program that would not continue is E-Verify, the federal program that allows employers to voluntarily determine the work eligibility of prospective employees. E-Verify is free to employers, and funded through annual appropriations.”[The Hill, 2/06/15]
FEMA Flood Risk Data, Department Civil Rights Investigations Would be Halted During Shutdown. “FEMA, for instance, will no longer provide flood-risk data for local planners and insurance determinations. And civil rights and liberties complaint lines and investigations handled by the department would shut down.” [The Hill, 2/06/15]
Twice In Two Days, Republicans Voted Against Homeland Security Funding, Preventing A Partial Government Shutdown. In February 2015, House Republicans voted twice against considering a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security through the end of the fiscal year, which would prevent that department from shutting down at the end of February. [H Res 100, Vote #71, 2/11/15; H Res 101, Vote #77, 2/12/15]
