Costa Reacts to House Passage of Homeland Security Appropriations Act

WASHINGTON, DC –Rep. Costa issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 240, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act, which included five amendments that would undermine the Administration’s immigration priorities, hurt our nation’s economy, and put the safety of all American families at risk.

“Defending our country and protecting fellow Americans is of the utmost importance. However, I could not in good conscious support a bill that was brought to the House floor simply to play partisan politics. This bill holds the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ransom at a challenging and dangerous time at home and abroad.  The recent events in Paris show that terrorism remains a critical international and domestic threat yet; my Republican colleagues seem content with putting our national security at risk by defunding Homeland Security. 

“As a stipulation for funding DHS, Republicans insist on dismantling the Administration’s immigration priorities, but they have yet to offer an alternative solution to our broken immigration system. In the San Joaquin Valley, which I represent, this bill will have significant impacts on farm workers, farmers and farming communities. Now more than ever Congress should be focusing on protecting our families and finding a permanent solution to our immigration system.

“Putting Americans at risk, because of partisan politics, is just plain irresponsible.”

###