Dear Chairman Rogers:
We are all shaken and heartbroken by the tragic attacks that took place today in Belgium, and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected.
As leaders of the Appropriations Committee, we have the unique responsibility to ensure the federal agencies that keep American communities safe have the resources they need to accomplish their mission. As such, I hope you will prioritize consideration of the Homeland Security and Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bills as you determine the schedule for marking up bills in the Appropriations Committee.
The Homeland Security and CJS bills fund critical investigative and law enforcement agencies whose mission is to uncover and prevent attacks, and hold accountable those who would do us harm, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, Coast Guard, and U.S. Attorneys. Additionally, grants from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) help communities proactively address vulnerabilities and response capabilities on their own.
It is disappointing that Republican leadership is content to adjourn for a nearly three week recess without passing a budget resolution. This failure, combined with Speaker Ryan’s stated intention not to bring Appropriations bills to the floor in the absence of a budget resolution, could stop the Appropriations process in its tracks. This is not an acceptable outcome.
Despite the majority’s inability to pass a budget adhering to last year’s agreement, and despite political roadblocks associated with these bills, I hope you share my desire to move our process forward, particularly in areas that are key to public safety.
Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Nita Lowey
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
