National Security
Democrats are committed to enhancing our national security and advancing key American interests, while supporting human rights and democratic values at home and abroad.
In the 117th Congress, Democrats passed a bipartisan defense authorization bill that strengthened our national security, ensured our military personnel have the resources they need to defend our country, and bolstered our allies and international interests. In the 118th Congress, Democrats will build on these gains by continuing to help President Biden keep Americans safe.
We will continue to work with the Administration to provide our diplomats and our troops with the tools needed to carry out their missions abroad safely and effectively. This will include continuing to work with our allies to ensure Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine ends in defeat for Putin, that America maintains its competitiveness against China’s authoritarian challenges, and that the world is free from threats posed by Iran.
Today, former Republican DHS Secretaries Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff had some choice words for House Republicans about playing politics with national security. Both former agency heads urged the GOP to pass a clean measure to fund DHS and then debate immigration policy separately. Our Republican friends have heard it from us over and over again, but maybe this time it will finally resonate.
As we get closer to a Republican shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, Members of the GOP conference are increasingly “sounding the alarms.” Add these Republicans to the list of Members who would join Democrats in acting responsibly to prevent a shutdown of DHS by voting for a clean bill:
I am extraordinarily proud to be associated with Rep. Luis Gutiérrez.
The Republicans pledged to America that they would not join together very controversial issues with non-controversial issues.
Which one of these did House Republicans promise to do in their Pledge to America:
A. Advance legislative issues one at a time
B. Package must-pass legislation with partisan poison pills
C. Threaten to shut down the government (or parts of it) on a regular basis
As the House returns to session today – with only four days left to avoid a DHS shutdown – we wanted to be sure you saw this morning’s Washington Post editorial highlighting Republicans’ inability to govern responsibly, which is placing national security risk:
With just one week left before the Department of Homeland Security runs out of funding, Congress must act swiftly to pass a clean funding measure to ensure our homeland security agencies have the resources needed to meet the challenges we face.
With only four legislative days left until DHS shuts down, more Republican Senators are coming out in support of immediate action to fund the Department (ie, that clean funding bill we’ve been talking about for weeks). Will their House GOP colleagues listen?
The Hill: Rubio: 'We can't let' DHS shut down
Another day, another dose of GOP infighting. The intraparty conflict continues – and worsens – as we mark two weeks until the Department of Homeland Security runs out of funding. There’s a simple way to keep DHS open: work with Democrats to pass a clean bill to fund the Department at the levels agreed to by Republicans and Democrats. But instead of taking the easy (and responsible) way out, Republicans continue to struggle with internal division:
There are just two weeks left until the Department of Homeland Security will run out of funding, and it’s time for Republicans to stop playing partisan games with our national security.