EXPRESSING THE SUPPORT OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

EXPRESSING THE SUPPORT OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 57 (Thursday, March 26, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 57 (Thursday, March 26, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2723-H2731] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] EXPRESSING THE SUPPORT OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1131, I call up the bill (H. Res. 1128) expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the Department of Homeland Security, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1131, the amendments to the resolution and the preamble printed in House Report 119-570 are adopted, and the resolution as amended, is considered read. The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows: H. Res. 1128 Whereas the Department of Homeland Security was established in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, to ensure the safety and security of the United States and its citizens; Whereas the Department of Homeland Security is comprised of more than 20 Federal [[Page H2724]] agencies with homeland security, public safety, and emergency preparedness missions to integrate and coordinate the efforts of such agencies to protect the United States; Whereas Department of Homeland Security personnel support critical homeland security missions, with more than 90 percent of the Department's workforce historically determined to be essential during lapses in appropriations in order that they may continue supporting such missions; Whereas the Coast Guard plays an essential role in advancing maritime security and rescuing civilians in distress; Whereas during the lapse of funding for the Coast Guard, many civilian personnel have missed paychecks, which could erode morale and hinder recruiting efforts; Whereas the Coast Guard cannot fully maintain mission readiness without funding, which weakens operations to combat transnational criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere, including the smuggling of sanctioned oil; Whereas U.S. Customs and Border Protection works to secure air, land, and sea ports of entry by interdicting illicit drugs, weapons, and contraband, and preventing terrorists and other malign actors from entering the United States; Whereas the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is the primary entity responsible for strengthening cyber resilience for Federal civilian executive branch agencies and protecting critical infrastructure; Whereas CISA must remain fully operational at a time when the United States is increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks from adversaries like Iran, Russia, and China who have targeted American hospital networks, electric grids, water treatment facilities, and energy infrastructure; Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supports State and local emergency responses to man-made and natural disasters, aids in hazard mitigation, and works to improve domestic resilience; Whereas U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including through Homeland Security Investigations, ensures the criminal and civil enforcement of Federal immigration law and the disruption of transnational criminal organizations and terrorist networks; Whereas the United States Secret Service protects national leaders and visiting heads of state, defends the United States financial infrastructure, and safeguards the American public at major national events; Whereas the Office of Intelligence and Analysis conducts essential information sharing with law enforcement partners across the country to ensure a timely response to identified threats; Whereas the Transportation Security Administration protects the traveling public and secures the United States transportation systems; Whereas since the most recent lapse in appropriations, more than 50,000 frontline Transportation Security Administration employees are working without pay, more than 300 Transportation Security Administration employees have resigned, and the rate of unscheduled personnel absences has increased; Whereas the impact of the most recent lapse in appropriations on Transportation Security Administration personnel and screening efficiency has resulted in drastically increased passenger wait times, travel delays, and overall strain on the transportation security system; Whereas, on March 1, 2026, a gunman allegedly motivated by extremist ideologies opened fire on a crowd in Austin, Texas, killing two people and injuring several others before being stopped by law enforcement; Whereas, on March 7, 2026, two suspects with stated allegiance to ISIS attempted to detonate two improvised explosive devices near the New York City Mayor's residence in Manhattan, New York; Whereas, on March 12, 2026, an individual rammed his vehicIe into the Temple Israel Synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, in an allegedly targeted attack against the Jewish community, causing a fire and injuring onsite security personnel; Whereas, on March 12, 2026, an active shooter with a prior conviction for attempting to aid ISIS killed one person and injured two others at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, before being subdued by members of the Reserve Officers Training Corps; Whereas actors supporting Iran have claimed responsibility for recent cyberattacks against the United States; Whereas these recent attacks clearly demonstrate that the United States is in a heightened domestic threat environment; and Whereas the Department of Homeland Security must maintain the capability to defend against threats to the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) recognizes the importance of ensuring the Department of Homeland Security is fully funded, and that the Department has all necessary resources to accomplish its mission to protect the American people from harm; (2) emphasizes that withholding funding of individual Department of Homeland Security components would degrade interagency coordination and create uncertainty in an increasingly heightened threat environment; (3) cautions that the American people are at greater risk each day the Department of Homeland Security is subject to a lapse in appropriations; and (4) expresses gratitude to Department of Homeland Security employees, including law enforcement officers, agents, and civilian personnel for their unwavering commitment to protect the United States from those who seek to cause harm. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The resolution, as amended, shall be debatable for 1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Homeland Security or their respective designees. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Mackenzie) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) each will control 30 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Mackenzie). General Leave Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1128. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Pennsylvania? There was no objection. Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1128, Expressing the Support of the House of Representatives for the Department of Homeland Security. As we meet today, tens of thousands of Federal workers serving on the front lines of our national security are going unpaid. For over 40 days, the men and women we count on to protect passengers, secure our critical infrastructure, and step up during disasters have gone unpaid. For the third time in 6 months, politics is getting in the way of critical American workers, the pay that they have earned. The impact of these political games isn't theoretical. It is causing real-world impacts each and every day. Over 50,000 Federal employees are going without paychecks just at TSA alone. Hundreds of employees have quit. Call-out rates are in the double digits, and those who are able to go to work are stuck managing some of the longest lines that we have seen at U.S. airports. All of this is happening at a time when our Nation is preparing to host major events while experiencing heightened national security risks. We have to do better. Today, this House will have an opportunity to vote on my resolution, H. Res. 1128, affirming the importance of DHS, the necessity of funding its agencies and employees, the risks of defunding our security apparatus, and our gratitude to the men and women who are working every day to protect this Nation. The House has already passed the appropriations bill to fully fund DHS twice, both times with bipartisan support. Now, it is time for us to speak with one voice putting aside politics to thank the members of the Coast Guard, FEMA, TSA, and more, who are continuing to do their jobs and keep us safe, despite many now going nearly a month and a half without a paycheck. Saying ``yes'' to funding does not mean saying ``no'' to reform. There are concerns that need to be addressed with respect to certain ICE and CBP operations, and when there are opportunities for positive reform we should work together to achieve it. That is why the DHS funding bill passed twice by this House already features significant new measures aimed at reducing tensions and improving transparency, including new funding for body cameras, de- escalation training, and the DHS Office of Inspector General. Despite this, in the face of grave terror threats against our Nation, some are choosing to politicize our national security and hold paychecks hostage until all of their demands are met. Let me be clear. Conversations about commonsense reforms at DHS operations are underway. They were underway before this shutdown. They continue t

Referenced legislation: HRES1128, HRES1128, HRES1131, HR7147, HR7481, HR7747