House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington testified before the House Rules Committee on April 27 regarding S.Con.Res. 33, a measure that would enable reconciliation to fully fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).
The hearing focused on the ongoing debate over federal funding for homeland security agencies, which Arrington said has been delayed by partisan disagreements in Congress.
Arrington said, "We're here today to stop the political nonsense and dangerous brinkmanship of our Democrat colleagues who for 72 days and 16 votes have held the Department of Homeland Security and the American people who depend on their services hostage over ridiculous and reckless demands that would effectively imperil not only the safety of our federal law enforcement agencies, but the American people." He continued, "It would, as a result, defund ICE and CBP and revert back to the four years of lawlessness and chaos from the open border."
Arrington described threats faced by ports from trafficking activities as well as terrorist attacks. He said it is unacceptable not to fund government operations: "It is completely unacceptable to not fund the federal government, and especially the Department of Homeland Security. CISA agents cannot defend our critical infrastructure against hostile hacks, and the list goes on." He also highlighted concerns about employees potentially going without pay if action was not taken: "If it weren't for the President's intervention, these poor folks at Homeland Security...would have gone without pay for over 100 days. Next week...if we don’t act unilaterally as responsible leaders for our country, they would go without pay. Enough is enough." Arrington concluded his remarks by saying: "We’re going to do what I believe is the right thing, and we’re going to fund our government. That includes those who protect us...and risk their lives to enforce our immigration laws...and deport criminal aliens who are in this country putting our communities...at risk."
The House Budget Committee is affiliated with the U.S. House of Representatives and includes members from key committees such as Ways and Means and Appropriations according to its official website. The committee oversees federal spending responsibilities through developing budget resolutions aimed at promoting fiscal responsibility according to its official website. Jodey Arrington has served as chairman of this committee according to its official website.
The committee has influenced budget management through use of reconciliation processes according to its official website, collaborates with independent analysts at Congressional Budget Office according to its official website, prepares annual budget resolutions along with guidelines for spending targets according to its official website.
Observers will be watching next steps in Congress regarding passage or modification of S.Con.Res. 33 amid continued debate about homeland security funding.
