Dr. Bucshon Votes to Fund DHS, Defund President’s Executive Action

(WASHINGTON, DC) – On Wednesday, Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. voted for and the House passed H.R. 240, the FY15 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which fully funds the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through September 30, 2015 and defunds President Obama’s unconstitutional executive actions on immigration.

Dr. Bucshon released the following statement after H.R. 240 passed the House:

“The United States is and will continue to be a nation of immigrants. It’s our tradition.  It’s the foundation that helped mold who we are today.  And we are continuing that tradition – the U.S. has more people immigrate legally to our country annually than any other country in the world. 

“At the same time, we are and will continue to be a nation that respects the rule of law. This is what separates us from so many other nations. The Constitution has been our guiding document and every elected federal official has sworn an oath to uphold it at all times, not just when it is convenient.

“The immigration challenges we face are many.  That’s why I support reform of our legal immigration laws; however, we must start by securing our borders and enforcing our current laws. Unfortunately, President Obama’s administration has ignored these important first steps and has attempted to legislate through executive fiat, ignoring the will of the American people as well as the separation of powers written in the Constitution.  In fact, the President has argued over 20 times that he could not act alone on immigration, but did so anyway. 

“The DHS appropriations bill fully funds the department, making sure they continue to have the resources needed to protect our citizens at home and abroad. In addition, with the added amendments, the bill reestablishes the Constitutional roles of Congress to write laws and the President to enforce them.

“We can find common ground on these challenges so long as the administration and Senate Democrats are willing to work on strategic solutions that reform our broken immigration system. We can begin with passing legislation that protects American workers here at home, secures our borders, bolsters immigration and customs enforcement, and modernizes our legal immigration system for the 21^st century.”

BACKGROUND: 

The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, became law on December 16, 2014. It fully funds 11 of the 12 regular Appropriations bill through September 30, 2015 and funds the Department of Homeland Security under a Continuing Resolution (CR) until February 27, 2015.

H.R. 240, the FY15 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill, will fund the Department of Homeland Security at $39.7 billion in discretionary funding through September 30, 2015. This funding level is $400 million over FY14 and ensures our nation’s security needs are met while maintaining fiscal discipline.

Highlights:

• Prioritizes funding for border security with additional funds to prevent cuts to border patrol agents, provides additional funds for border fencing, infrastructure and technology, and maintains constant air, sea, and land surveillance.
• Increases funding for immigration enforcement to address the surge of unaccompanied children crossing the border with additional staffing and detention beds.
• Deters future illegal migration, facilitates removal, fully funds E-Verify, and combats human trafficking, drug smuggling, and gang activity.
• Maintains TSA priorities for passenger and cargo security and reforms passenger screening options through risk-based screening and privatized screening.
• Prevents cuts to the U.S. Coast Guard and ensures the acquisition of a USCG National Security Cutter and additional aircraft and vessels to fulfill mission requirements provides necessary funds for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund and first responder grants.

Important amendments to H.R. 240 supported by Dr. Bucshon:

An amendment offered by Reps. Aderholt, Mulvaney, and Barletta that: 

• Prevents any funds from being used to carry-out the Executive actions announced on November 20, 2014 to grant deferred action to certain people who are in the United States illegally.
• Declares that no funds may be used to carry-out any substantially similar policies to those defunded.
• Declares that the policies defunded and any substantially similar policies have no statutory or constitutional basis and therefore no legal effect.

An amendment offered by Rep. Blackburn that:

• Provides that no funds may be used to consider new, renewal, or previously denied DACA applications.

An amendment offered by Reps. DeSantis and Roby that:

• Requires that DHS treat any person in the United States illegally convicted of any offense involving domestic violence, sexual abuse, child molestation, or child abuse or exploitation be subject to DHS’s highest civil immigration enforcement.

An amendment offered by Reps. Salmon and Thompson (PA) that:

• Provides a sense of Congress that the Executive Branch should not pursue policies that disadvantage the hiring of U.S. citizens and those lawfully present in the United States by making it economically advantageous to hire workers who came to the country illegally.

An amendment by Rep. Schock that: 

• Provides a sense of Congress that the Administration should stop putting the interest of immigrants who worked within the legal framework to come to the US behind those who came here illegally.