“As we rapidly approach the date on which the Department of Homeland Security’s funding expires, and as law enforcement officials face major threats to our nation’s safety and security, we write with one simple request: work with us to pass a clean bill that funds Homeland Security for the remainder of the fiscal year,” the letter signed by 45 US Senators on Tuesday read.
The lawmakers stressed that DHS funding was becoming crucial to the United States amid the rise of terrorist attacks in countries including France, Canada and Australia, and the Islamic State (IS) terror group which is radicalizing Muslims go home and fight.
Earlier in January, the US House of Representatives introduced a $39.7 billion appropriations bill for DHS. The bill included a Republican-sponsored amendment to withhold funding for any of the president’s executive actions on immigration.
“Every day, new threats emerge that endanger our citizens at home and our allies abroad,” the letter read. “We should not cast doubt on future funding for the Department of Homeland Security at a time when the entire nation should be marshalling collective resources to defend against terrorism.”
Currently, DHS is being funded by continuing resolutions, which caps spending at 2014 levels. The lawmakers shared the concerns that the agency’s Secretary Jeh Johnson expressed that CRs would limit the DHS’ counter terrorism efforts.
Following US President Barack Obama’s executive action on addressing immigration challenges without consulting Congress back in November, members of the Republican Party announced plans to defund portions of DHS responsible for carrying out the president’s policy.
