Murray calls out Senate Republicans for blocking TSA funding 8 times in a row while dragging feet on basic reforms to ICE and Border Patrol
Murray: “Just as Democrats have been very clear, we will immediately fund TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, and CISA while talks continue on ICE and Border Patrol, we’ve also made very clear that if we are talking about funding any part of ICE or CBP, we absolutely must take some key steps to rein them in.”
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s full remarks***
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks at this afternoon’s Senate Democratic leadership press conference regarding continued negotiations on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and common-sense reforms to rein in ICE and Border Patrol.
Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
“Conversations are happening now about a path ahead to fund DHS and rein in ICE. But let’s remember where we are: TSA agents are going without pay—travelers are showing up at our airports to find three, four, even five-hour security lines—and Trump and Republicans are refusing to just fund TSA.
“Democrats have tried again and again to pay TSA while negotiations continue on reforms on ICE and Border Patrol but Republicans have now blocked us eight times and counting.
“We have tried to send TSA agents the paychecks they deserve—Trump has responded by sending ICE instead.
“TSA agents do not need ICE officers hovering over their shoulders—and intimidating travelers, they need to get paid. There is no excuse for the chaos Republicans have caused at our airports.
“Now, some of my Democratic colleagues and I have had productive meetings with the White House as we press for meaningful reforms to ICE. But they would be a lot more productive if the President didn’t keep making new and unreasonable demands over social media. It is awfully hard to find common ground with Republicans when it’s not clear they have common ground among themselves.
“Until recently, the Republican position was: ‘We won’t let you give a dollar to TSA, unless you cut a blank check to Stephen Miller.’ That is absurd. But now, we’ve made some headway toward reforms, Trump told Republicans: maybe he doesn’t want these negotiations at all, and he won’t accept any deal to fund TSA—or the rest of the Department—until Congress passes his voter suppression bill. He is actually holding TSA pay hostage all to disenfranchise tens of [millions] of American citizens over delusions of voter fraud.
“Republicans now say he’s walking away from that, but the president has yet to clarify his ultimatum. The only way we are going to get out of this mess is if we know that the President is on the same page as the Republicans.
“Now, Democrats are continuing to push for modest reforms.
“And, just as Democrats have been very clear, we will immediately fund TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, and CISA while talks continue on ICE and Border Patrol, we’ve also made very clear that if we are talking about funding any part of ICE or CBP, we absolutely must take some key steps to rein them in.
“The current Republican offer in front of us does not do that.
“We have made some progress, and the White House has already agreed to some steps. Bottom line: reforms must make it into law.
“So instead of creating chaos, President Trump needs to get serious about finding a solution—and Republicans need to stop blocking TSA pay while dragging their feet on some very basic reforms.
“We should pay TSA today, and finalize a deal to fund the rest of the Department and rein in ICE and Border Patrol.”
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