McCollum No Vote on H.R. 4367

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4367, the Republican FY24 Department of Homeland Security Act.

This bill is another example of House Republican leadership appeasing the most extreme members of their caucus and is another funding bill that has no path to become law. With the passage of the rule on Tuesday, Republicans decided to hold this bill hostage. For H.R. 4367 to even be sent to the Senate, Republicans are demanding that the Senate pass and the president sign their extreme immigration bill, the Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2). When it passed the House in May, President Biden had already stated he would not sign it.

This week, Republicans continued to add to the chaos when the House Rules Committee met late at night Wednesday and sent another rule to the floor with self-executing provisions that cater to the most extreme Republicans. Members like Representatives Gaetz and Boebert demanded significantly reduced H-2B visas that help fill workforce shortages and Republican leadership caved to their demands in order to pass the bill. By continuing to only negotiate with the farthest right members of their conference, House Republican leaders are not serious about preventing a government shutdown.

H.R. 4367 contains misguided investments that double down on failed border policy by redirecting $2.1 billion to border wall construction while divesting from proven, modern detection technology. The bill also contains more extreme rightwing policy riders targeting the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s ability to defend Americans against disinformation campaigns from foreign adversaries and domestic extremists.

As we continue to feel the effects of a changing climate, Republicans have also cut all climate resiliency funding from the Homeland Security bill—over $748 million in investments to ensure that as the global climate changes, America is prepared for the effects of stronger storms, higher temperatures, and increased migration. The Department of Defense has declared climate change a national security threat, as regions become uninhabitable, and people are forced to move from their homes. By passing this Homeland Security bill, Republicans continue to ignore the fact that climate change is a real and imminent threat to American lives and communities.

I cannot support a partisan Homeland Security bill that does not focus on real solutions to the issues our country faces.

Thank you, and I yield back.