Hoyer Discusses the Department of Homeland Security Funding Bill, Need for Bipartisanship in the 114th Congress on MSNBC's "Morning Joe"

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" this morning to discuss the Department of Homeland Security funding bill on the House Floor this week and the need to work on a bipartisan basis in the 114th Congress. Below are excerpts from the interview and a link to the video.

Click here for the video.

On the Department of Homeland Security Funding Bill

“Well, very frankly, we have on the Floor this week, as you know, the funding of the Department of Homeland Security, which is designed to keep our country and our people safe. You would think that's an area – and I hope it's going to be an area – where we can come together and act in a bipartisan, American fashion, not a partisan fashion, to fund our security agency… [R]ight now Republicans appear to be offering amendments which deal with the immigration issue, not the funding of the Department of Homeland Security. If we continue to do that, not just Americans but the world is going to see us as not united to face a threat to all of us.”

“Essentially all of [the amendments] are related to the immigration issue, all five amendments that have been offered. We are whipping against two of the amendments, which we think will preclude the President from signing a bill. The underlying bill, Joe, as you know, has almost unanimous agreement… So it's really sad that we are unable to say, look, we have an agreement, let's adopt that and then, on those items on which we disagree, let's argue.”

On Bipartisanship in the 114th Congress

“The American people sent us all here, all 435 of us here, to make their country better and to work together, and we ought to do that. I think what Speaker Boehner needs to do is say, look, to those of you who want confrontation, I’m not with you, and, in fact, I can forge bipartisan majorities to pass legislation I think is good for the country. Will there be a necessity for compromise on both sides? Of course there will be, but I think we can forge a majority working together. I’m certainly prepared to do that. Speaker Boehner and I, he has my respect, and we have an opportunity and ability to work together, and I hope we'll do so.”