House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington urged his colleagues on April 29 to pass S. Con. Res. 33, a measure that would enable funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, during remarks delivered on the House floor.
Arrington said the Department of Homeland Security has been shut down for 74 days due to disagreements in Congress, impacting public safety and federal workers' paychecks. He said, "Mr. Speaker, we're here because my Democrat colleagues have shut the United States Department of Homeland Security down for now 74 days. They have held the American people hostage and have imperiled the safety of every citizen of this country for their ridiculous and even dangerous demands." Arrington also questioned how long members of Congress would tolerate going without pay themselves if they were in a similar situation.
He criticized what he described as "unserious demands" from Democrats regarding reforms related to expelling criminal aliens, saying these measures would effectively halt deportations despite existing court orders: "There is not a Democrat or Republican former commander in chief that would ever find that acceptable, because, in fact, these criminal aliens have had their day in immigration court...and it's unacceptable." Arrington also addressed accusations against ICE and CBP agents: "my Democrat colleague repeatedly referred to our honorable ICE and CBP agents as ‘masked thugs.’"
Arrington highlighted increases in threats against border agents: "8,000% increase...in death threats to these gentlemen and gentle ladies who wear the badge...a 1,300% increase in assaults," referencing both cartel violence and domestic attacks on law enforcement officers at the border.
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 by developing budget resolutions aimed at fiscal responsibility according to its official website, with Arrington currently serving as chairman according to its official website. The committee also influences budget management through reconciliation processes according to its official website while collaborating with the Congressional Budget Office for independent analyses according to its official website. It is known for preparing annual budget resolutions that set guidelines for government spending targets according to its official website.
Arrington concluded his remarks by calling on lawmakers: "And we say: ‘enough is enough.’ And today we put forward this budget resolution with reconciliation instructions to fund the people's Homeland Security...to do right by these hard-working...public servants that go to work every day not knowing if they're going to come home."
