Congress Fights Over DHS Funding, Border Security

Congress Debates Department of Homeland Security Funding Amid Shutdown Fears

Lawmakers in Washington are locked in a high-stakes debate over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A potential shutdown of parts of the agency loomed, threatening critical operations. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are reportedly working on a new plan to avoid this. The proposal aims to fund most of DHS, but it excludes certain parts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

President Biden has publicly supported this plan. He urged lawmakers to have the bill on his desk by June 1st. The Senate convened early to send the measure to the House. The House of Representatives is expected to meet later today to vote on the legislation.

Senator Johnson Criticizes Democratic Obstruction

Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin expressed strong opinions on the ongoing negotiations. He described Democratic actions as “obnoxiously obstructionist.” Senator Johnson believes Democrats are using the security of the nation as a bargaining chip. He stated, “They’re using the security of the homeland as a bargaining game in their sick little games. That is disgusting.”

Senator Johnson supports a specific approach for funding DHS. He advocates for using reconciliation, a special legislative process that bypasses the usual Senate filibuster rules. However, he stressed the importance of keeping these reconciliation plans “narrow and focused.” This is to prevent them from becoming uncontrollable or vulnerable to political maneuvering. He feels this is the only practical way to move forward given the current political climate.

DHS Funding and Future Priorities

The current plan aims to ensure funding for CBP and ICE. Senator Johnson, however, desires a more expansive approach. He wants to fund all Republican priorities within DHS through fiscal year 2029. He believes Democrats aim to turn America into a one-party nation by opening borders and increasing immigration. “We can’t allow Democrats to use the security of our Nation, our homeland, as a bargaining chip,” he stated.

This strategy is intended to prevent Democrats from using future DHS funding as a way to gain political leverage. Senator Johnson expressed concern that if Republicans do not act decisively, Democrats could implement policies detrimental to national security and the country’s future. He feels this is a critical moment to secure the nation’s borders and ensure the safety of its citizens.

Broader Fiscal and Security Concerns

The discussion also touched upon other significant fiscal and security issues. These include defense spending and election integrity. The Pentagon has requested $200 billion for operations related to the war in Iran. President Biden has proposed a $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027.

Additionally, the SAVE Act, which aims to provide grant money to states for voter identification measures, is stalled. Some lawmakers believe this could be a budgetary item. States like Florida and Mississippi have passed laws requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. These measures also involve checking voter rolls against databases and tightening rules starting in 2027.

The Filibuster and Future Governance

Senator Johnson reiterated his long-held stance on the Senate filibuster. He believes that if Democrats regain power, they will abolish the filibuster. This rule typically requires 60 votes to end debate and advance legislation in the Senate. Senator Johnson fears that Democrats would use this power to implement policies like turning Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. into states and expanding the Supreme Court. He urged Republicans to use the remaining time in the current presidential term to enact key priorities.

He described the current legislative process as broken, noting the Senate’s low rate of passing appropriation bills on time. “We’ve passed six out of 180 appropriation bills on time. Six. That’s a 97% failure rate,” he said. He believes that acting now is crucial to prevent what he sees as a destructive path for America.

Concerns Over Birthright Citizenship and Foreign Influence

A significant portion of the conversation focused on concerns about birthright citizenship and foreign influence, particularly from China. Senator Johnson cited research suggesting that China exploits birthright citizenship laws. This practice, he argued, allows roughly 100,000 Chinese babies to be born in the U.S. annually, with children raised in China. These individuals could later become U.S. citizens, vote in elections, and potentially hold government jobs.

This raises concerns about millions of potential voters who may not act in America’s best interest. Senator Johnson quoted Peter Schweizer, who described this as a “massive exploitation of our immigration laws.” He emphasized that China uses long-term strategies and leverages other nations’ laws and constitutions against them. “They take a long-term view, they use their enemy’s laws and constitutions against their enemies, they infiltrate, steal our secrets,” Senator Johnson explained.

He concluded by stressing the need for immediate action to counter these threats. He hopes the Supreme Court and Congress will address these issues to protect the nation’s sovereignty and democratic processes. The senator views this as a critical fight against foreign adversaries seeking to undermine the United States.

Source: 'SICK LITTLE GAMES': GOP sen ERUPTS as DHS shutdown fight hits boiling point (YouTube)