Ranking Member Carper Welcomes News of DHS FY15 Full Year Funding Bill, Warns Against Controversial Immigration Amendments

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, released the following statement in reaction to the House of Representative’s Appropriations bill, Fiscal Year 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill (H.R. 240).

“I welcome the news that the House Appropriations Committee has acted promptly by offering a bill that will provide full fiscal year operational funding for the Department of Homeland Security,” Ranking Member Carper said. “In light of recent events around the world, we are reminded again that the Department needs fiscal certainty and full support from Congress so that it can continue to effectively carry out its role in keeping Americans safe and combatting the complex and ever-changing threats that our country faces. While I am still reviewing this bill, it appears that this measure, if passed, will provide the Department with the critically important financial certainty it needs and currently lacks.

“That said, I am concerned about the amendments I understand could be offered to this bill on the House floor. It would be irresponsible to use the budget for a vital national security agency, like Department of Homeland Security, to launch political attacks on the President’s immigration policies, particularly after failing to tackle comprehensive immigration reform last Congress. I urge the House of Representatives to pass a clean funding bill without controversial amendments that would jeopardize full year funding for this important Department.”