[inaudible conversations] of morning. [inaudible] we meet to consider Homeland Security appropriations bill. Weve made some wonderful progress and continue to today. I now turn at the charming carter to present the Homeland Security bill. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Before i start its tradition to have some snack from your home district. The most famous thing in my home district are round rock doughnuts. The National Magazine have declared the best donut in the world, however there so good they dont travel well so as a substitute we have a large Check Community in my town and everyone is welcome to eat this clutch he. Its very good. I wanted to let you know about that. We have them here last year. They are good. The question is what are they, and then we will move on. They are a roll with fruit on top of them and theyre very good. Okay. Judge carter is recognized. Thank you. Now that ive gotten the important stuff out of the way. Im glad to be here to present the fiscal year 2018 department of Homeland Security appropriations bill to the community. The recommendation is 42. 5 billion in nondefense discretionary spending. 1. 9billion in defense spending, 6. 8 billion for Disaster Relief. The total is 51. 1 billion. That is 327 million above the president s request and 1. 8 billion above 5 50 fiscal year 2017 based line. It stands in sharp contrast to prior years because the budget request is a major policy change in how dhs secures the border and enforces the law. I respect everyones rate to assert reasonable dissent. Moreover i have no doubt that everyone shares the same objectives for dhs, to ensure our homeland is safe, secure and resilient against terrorism and other hazards. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, i realize were going to spend a lot of time debating the pros and cons of spending nearly 1. 6 billion on border wall construction, threepoint to billion or 44000 among other items. These are increases in spending and worthy of debate. All too often the discussion veers off to heartbreaking stories of illegal migration. That is only part of the story. If Illegal Migrants can exploit vulnerabilities, so can terrorists, drug smugglers and Human Trafficking organizations. This is unacceptable. The recommendation in this bill, the bill is dynamic, and they want to secure fencing where Border Patrol agents have convinced me and the committee is needed. They are invested in smart 21st Century Technology that assist those who work on the border. Theyre not building solid walls stretching from texas to san diego california. They are not targeted areas like the Big Bend National park and arizona desert or Mother Nature in ways man cannot enhance. They complained that putting physical orders wont work and are unnecessary. With respect, i disagree. In the early 1990s over 50000 people were apprehended as they attempted to illegally cross the border into the san diego section. They installed security infrastructure improvements. By 2016, the number of apprehensions in that sector have plummeted to 25000 from 500,000 to 25000. Similar Success Stories occurred across yuma, tucson and el paso. I am committed to bringing the same success to texas. Colleagues, this bill is focused on National Security and Law Enforcement. It sends a powerful message that if you break our nations laws, cross the border illegally, you will suffer the consequences. With that, here are the highlights of the bill. For cbp, in addition to the wal wall, it supports Border Control by 500 agents. In addition to the funds for 44000 detention beds which is an increase of 4676 over 2017, 18 million above the request is provided to expand Visa Security Program to two additional high threat overseas locations. 186million to increase investigative support staff by 1600 people who have requested it. Fema, 3 billion for fema grants exercise programs, an increase of 939. 7 million above the request which includes 25 million increase for nonprofits 30 Grant Program. 7. 3billion requested for the Disaster Relief fund. For secret service, 1. 9 billion to ensure they are paid for the work they do. For tsa, full funding for transportation to support aviation security. They will continue Program Management activities and design the work required to award a Production Contract in fiscal year 2019. 500million for reduction of the first offshore patrol cutter and long lead materials and 95 million for a fully commissioned. [inaudible] to enhance longrange surveillance activities. For Cyber Security, infrastructure and Infrastructure Protection, 950 million provided to secure Government Network and prevent Cyber Attacks and 380 million for Infrastructure Protection programs including electrical grid and Emergency Committee case and systems. Finally, the everify system which enables businesses to check whether their employees are eligible to work in the United States is fully funded out 135 million. Colleagues, this is a good bill. I ask you to support it. Im happy to answer any questions about this but before i do, the Ranking Member is recognized and our full Committee ChairmanRanking Members for any comments they would like to make. Thank you german carter. Please recognize the Ranking Member. Mr. Chairman, as i said in our subcommittee, i greatly appreciate how you and your staff have been collegiate, colorad collaborative and receptive in developing this bill. We have a Good Partnership and working to address the needs of Homeland Security and its dedicated personnel. We understand they are the ones doing the critical work of keeping our country safe. The positive aspects include fema preparedness and increases of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program from 25 up to 50 million. primarily on interior enforcement. There is certainly no disagreement. We should be removing dangerous individuals. The interior enforcement is targeting the parents of other Company Children seeking asylum and people who have lived, worked and paid taxes in the country for years and decades with no criminal infraction. As a result, the arrest of non criminals are up 157 over last year. These are not required in the National Security for the Public Safety and they are having tragic consequences for individuals, families and communities all over the nation. Teachers tell me emigrant and United States children alike are afraid to go to school or are out to play for fear their parents will be gone when the return. On the communities throughout this country should not be overstated. The only solution to this problem is comprehensive Immigration Reform. Another area of concern is a 1. 6 billion for new border infrastructure. The fy 17 bill requires the secretary to submit a riskbased plan where imposing security along the border. We have yet to receive the plan. How can we support such an enormous cost without a comprehensive plan backed by clear justification for why it should take priority over other critical investments . For these reasons i cannot support the bill in its current form. Instead of wasting money on an unnecessary war in the enforcement of discriminatory policies, we should be investing the limited resources to address the real threats posed by dangerous criminal alien and those who seek to do our country harm. This includes more resources into cybersecurity, Human Trafficking investigations and coast guard vessels and aircraft to address the vulnerabilities allow the alaskan coast to the limited drug interdiction efforts. We should be investing more in the customs, research and technology and restore funding for the Law Enforcement and officer Reimbursement Program. Beating in this country illegally is a civil violation. We shouldnt be spending excessive amounts of money for several Immigration Enforcement. Most of you in this room have Family History of immigrants that came with little more than the clothing on their back so they can eventually afford a place of their own. If Administration Policies were in place most American Families came to this land few would have been allowed to enter the United States and many of us wouldnt be here today. My Family History is a little different. My father served in this house for 30 years born in 1960 with traces back through this country a generation that never came to the United States. When the part of mexico they settled and became a u. S. Territory and 1912 the state of new mexico. No matter how we became americans, the fact is most came here from somewhere else. The contributions help make the country the greatest nation in the world and todays immigrants help keep america great. It was recognized by the government in the 1920s. Even after establishing the Border Patrol setting up the first consul for control system requiring visas to be obtained a broad before admission to the u. S. And putting in place the caps and quotas based on recent nationality discretion was given to the visuals to suspend deportation in the meritorious cases and creative policies allowing many european immigrants in the u. S. Without proper authorization to legalize the status. These rules made it possible for millions of people including many of our ancestors and have the opportunity to realize the american dream. Its how best to enforce the immigration laws and unfortunately the immigration rhetoric has poisoned the waters. Its made it difficult for this congress to bridge the differences in the homeland while still reflecting our american values. The administration said the law is the law and we must enforce it. Mr. Chairman, just as was true nearly a century ago, our immigration policies just as Law Enforcement agencies have discretion, so do agencies like a the department of Homeland Security. Just as former members of congress emphasized discussion regarding policies impacting european immigrants, members of this committee have discretion in how to vote on policies impacting immigrants of today. Im not making an argument for the open borders or the illumination of our immigration law. Its my hope that as we worked k together to find the right balance between legal and moral aspects. Many of whom are escaping the same tragic circumstances as those being welcomed in the pa past. It could be you or me. Let me reiterate how much i appreciate the way the subcommittee does its business even when we disagree we do it with respect for one another and the institution for which we are honored to serve. I hope we will continue working together so by the end of this appropriations process we have a final bill both sides can fully support. In closing i would be remiss if i didnt acknowledge and thank my outstanding staff and the majority of staff including Leonardo Rinaldi and the staff director valery baldwin. I want to thank the Ranking Member as well as chairman carper for their remarks. We live in the greatest country of the earth. Its good to know the ties that bind us are strong. This bill demonstrates the commitment to safeguard the homeland and protect the citizens and protects discretionary funding from the department of Homeland Security to secure the nation from many threats we face. Whether thats fair for some, criminals and illegal goods crossing the borders or attacks on the cyber networks. The bill that was recently passed as a strong investment, families, neighbors, schools and businesses. The resources are protected to the customs and Border Protection to approve infrastructure and technology and put boots on the ground. It includes 1. 6 billion for physical there on the southern border and 100 million to hire 500 Border Patrol agents. The bill also provides immigrations Customs Enforcement to withdraw to make sure the laws are being followed and this includes funding for additional Law Enforcement officers removal programs investigation programs and Human Trafficking. The illegal goods entered into and out of the country the bill provides 10. 5 billion in funding for the coast guard. Securing the cyberinfrastructure against dangerous hacking and Cyber Attacks. To respond to any emergencies or natural disasters by fully funding the Disaster Relief accounts and in addition to 2. 7 billion provided for the Grant Programs that support the First Responders the first line of defense in the committees. I would like to thank the subcommittee chair and all members may i say the Remarkable Group of men and women who make us look good and works on an won expeditious basis to bring the bill forward. I urge the support of the bill and its my pleasure to welcome you for any comments you have. I want to thank the chair and Ranking Member and the staff on both sides of the aisle and all the members of the subcommittee for the important work that you have done. With the roadblocks hindering the path forward specifically no bipartisan agreement one might think the majority would produce bills that could possibly gain support from democrats, yet that has not happened. The bill before us today provides some minority input on funding including the restoration of proposed cuts to the grants which are of vital importance to my home state of new york and the chairman was receptive to many of the minority requests for the report language in the rather collegial process but we appreciate. However, the bill provides a significant increase to carry out the draconian Immigration Enforcement that will target hmong criminal immigrants and separate families while underfunding of your priorities. As a result the subcommittee allocation is 1. 9 billion over the current level and 250 million more than president donald trump. Request while other bills have been severely slashed and 700 million on thousands of detention beds and enforcement officers. Instead of building walls, we should build bridges to advancing Science Research through the science and Technology Directorate to help fill the gaps. We should help protect the airport by increasing in for the Law EnforcementReimbursement Program not eliminating it. Security at airports is a shared responsibility and this is no time for the federal government to start pulling back on its commitments. Its a tragic reminder that we cannot afford to relax our Airport Security posture or instead of fulfilling 1. 6 billion concrete monuments to the Campaign Promise to give hardworking americans a fair shake by helping them create jobs in the Small Businesses protecting pell grants and building safer, faster Transportation Systems so upgrading, crumbling infrastructure and the list goes on and on. Democrats are eager to support bills that include appropriate spending levels and are free from the misguided politically driven policies. The sooner we can begin to enact the bills that make the investments the communities truly need. To make sure we have products that we can all be proud of. Any further discussion on the bill . This department is important to me personally and i want to congratulate the chairman of the subcommittee for doing a good job this. This is a tough, tough bill. We created the subcommittee 15 years ago and tried to merge together 22 different federal agencies as varied as the secret service, tsa commits coast guard, cbp and on and on and on. They make these agencies into a single workable efficient one. These agencies are not amalgamated as they were drunk could be done. Im not sure you can and now amalgamate the cbp. When you think about the responsibility, aviation security, border enforcement, customs activity can aspire to service them. Mr