MEMO -- House GOP’s Dangerous DHS Tactics Risking Americans’ Safety

To: Interested Parties

From: Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi's Press Office

Date: February 12, 2015

Re: House GOP's Dangerous DHS Tactics Risking Americans' Safety

Last night, Americans learned of some striking news about their safety and the funding the Department of Homeland Security. The anti-immigrant radicals in the GOP conference have vowed to throw DHS funding over the cliff to score political points:

A faction of House and Senate conservatives is pushing Republican leaders to take the battle over the Homeland Security Department to the brink…

The closed-door debate picked up new urgency in the Capitol on Wednesday, with House and Senate GOP leaders in an awkward public impasse over the issue — just a month after they assumed complete control of Congress and with two weeks before funding runs out for the department…

Conservative hardliners are arguing they have a stronger political hand now than they did in 2013, when a fight over Obamacare led to a 16-day government shutdown and a backlash for Republicans.

The immigration matter was debated privately at a Republican lunch Wednesday in the Senate's Mansfield Room, with leading conservatives, such as Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama…

Other immigration hard-liners, like Reps. Steve King (R-Iowa) and Bill Flores (R-Texas), also argued Wednesday their party would be in a stronger political position if Congress fails to meet the Feb. 27 funding deadline. [2/11]

Perhaps House Republicans have forgotten what happened when they recklessly shutdown the federal government in 2013. To help refresh their memory, here is a Cliff Notes version of what it looked like:

IMPACT OF THE REPUBLICAN 2013 GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN:

• Cost our economy $24 billion,
• Cost the nation 120,000 jobs,
• Disrupted tourism and closed national parks,
• Shuttered essential services for veterans and military families,
• Reduced GDP growth by more than half a percentage point.

AMERICANS BLAME GOP FOR REPUBLICAN SHUTDOWN OF 2013:

• Pollsshow wide majorities disapproved of the shutdown – and held Republicans responsible.
• Editorial boards across the country laid blame at the feet of the GOP congress.

Evidently, House Republicans have a short memory – because they're ready to manufacture another shutdown, this time threatening the safety and security of American families and playing games with funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The American people are already taking notice:

NEWSPAPERS & EDITORIALS CALLING ON GOP TO DROP RECKLESS GAMES & STOP PLAYING WITH AMERICANS' SECURITY:

Evansville Courier & Press Editorial – Republicans painting themselves into a corner

Wall Street Journal Editorial – Can the GOP Change?

Boston Globe Editorial – GOP should focus on fixing immigration, not compromising security

Newsday Editorial – Congress plays foolish game with security funds

The Blaze – DHS Could Be Facing A Shutdown After This Exchange Between House And Senate Republicans

Washington Post Editorial – Republicans appear unwilling to end immigration inertia

Newsday Editorial – Now Is No Time to Play Political Games with Homeland Security

Times Union Editorial – Youcall this governing?

Newsmax – GOP Senate, House Clash Over Stalled Homeland Security Bill

La Opinion Editorial – The politics of Deporting

GOP LEADERSHIP PLAYING HOT POTATO WITH AMERICANS' SAFETY & DHS FUNDING:

CNN– McConnell and Boehner each say 'not it' on DHS bill

Real Clear Politics – GOPBlame Game Over Stalled Homeland Security Bill

TMP – Ted Cruz Blames GOP Leaders For Failing Strategy To Stop Obama On Immigration

Wall Street Journal – Cruz Says Fate of Homeland Security in GOP Leadership's Hands

The Hill – Republicans at odds over immigration

National Journal – House and Senate GOP Play Chicken Over Homeland Security Funding

MSNBC – ‘This is no way to run a congressional majority'

Newsmax – GOP Senate, House Clash Over Stalled Homeland Security Bill

Roll Call – House Says, Senate Says: GOP Split on Next DHS Move

REPUBLICANS CALLING FOR DHS FUNDING:

• Republican Senator Mark Kirk (IL):"I generally agree with the Democratic position here. I think we should have never fought this battle on DHS funding."
• Republican Rep. Charlie Dent (PA): "I think it's better politically to vote for a clean appropriations bill,' he added. ‘That's better on a policy basis as well as on a political basis."
• Republican Sens. Cory Gardner (CO) and Shelley Moore Capito (WV):"A pair of GOP senators implored House Republicans Thursday to soften their stance in the intra-party dispute over funding the Department of Homeland Security."
• Republican Rep. Peter King (NY): "…we have to get the funding."
• Republican Rep Mike Simpson (ID): "…Send 'em a clean bill."
• Republican Senator Jeff Flake (AZ):"To attempt to use a spending bill in order to try to poke a finger in the President's eye is not a good move…We ought to put legislation on his desk, and we ought to use this time – we've already used up two weeks trying to attach measures to a funding bill when we could have used this time to actually move actual immigration legislation."

OFFICIALS CALLING FOR CLEAN DHS BILL & PROMINENT ORGANIZATIONS CALLING ON GOP TO REMOVE ANTI-IMMIGRANT RIDERS:

• Three former DHS Secretaries, one Democrat and two Republicans, warn Congress not to risk DHS funding.
• U.S. Conference of Mayors call on Republicans to end their irresponsible political schemes.
• Over 10 prominent pro-immigrant organizations blast GOP for holding DHS funding hostage and favoring mass deportations.

IMPACT OF A REPUBLICAN DHS SHUTDOWN:

• Shutters the DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, which would no longer alert and coordinate with local law enforcement agencies, and withholding the Securing the Cities grants that pay for critical nuclear detection capabilities in cities across the country;
• Halts Research and Development work on countermeasures to devastating biological threats, on nuclear detection equipment, and on cargo and passenger screening technologies;
• Cripples FEMA's preparations for future disasters, furloughing 22 percent of FEMA personnel;
• Stops the pay for thousands of DHS employees protecting our homeland;
• Ends FEMA training activities with local law enforcement for Weapons of Mass Destruction events.

Mr. Speaker, it's time to abandon this continuation of uncertainty and join Democrats and bring up H.R. 861, the clean DHS funding bill that provides long-term funding for Homeland Security – ending Republicans' recklessness and keeping the American people safe.