Good morning, thank you all for being here today for the second full [ inaudible ] [ inaudible ] the meeting today to consider both Homeland Security appropriations bill, and interior appropriations bill. We made some remarkable progress over the past month and we hope to have it completed today. Now i refer to chairman carter to present the fiscal year 2018 Homeland Security bill. Judge carter. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Before i sort its sort of a tradition to have some kind of snipe from your home district. The most famous thing in my home district are doughnuts, the National Magazines declare it the best doughnut in the world. However we cant, theyre so good they dont travel well. So as a substitute, we have a large Czech Community in my district. Swree clac we have clachis of all sorts across the hall. Our Czech Community is very, very proud of their clachis and theyre very good. I want to let you know about that a clachi, we had them here last year. Theyre good. The question is what are they . And then were going to move on a roll with fruit on top of them and theyre good. Judge carter is recognized. Thank you. Now that ive gotten the important stuff out of the way well im glad to be here to present the fiscal year 2018 department of Homeland Security appropriations bill to the committee. The recommendation is 42. 5 billion in nondefense discretionary spending. 1. 9 billion in defense spending, 6. 8 billion for Disaster Relief. The total is 51. 1 billion. Which is 327 million above the president s request. And 1. 8 billion above fiscal year 2017 baseline. The subcommittees recommendations stands in sharp contrast to prior years, because the president s budget request is a major policy change in how dhs secures the border and enforces immigration laws. Consequently many of the minority are opposed to the bill. While i regret not having a unified subcommittee mark, i respect everyones right to assert reasonable and honest dissent. Moreover, i have no doubt that everyone on this committee shares the same objectives for dhs. To insure our homeland is safe, secure and resilient against terrorism and other hazards. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, i realize that were going to spend a lot of time today debating the pros and cons, of spending nearly 1. 6 billion on border wall construction, and 3. 2 billion for 44,000 detention beds among other items. These are significant increases in spending, and are worthy of debate. All too often the discussion veers off to heartbreaking stories of illegal migration. But that is only part of the story. The rest is, that if Illegal Migrants can exploit vulnerabilities in the nations border, so can terrorists, drug smugglers, and Human Trafficking organizations. This is unacceptable. The recommendation of this bill, that the bill change, thats dynamic, they enforce current structures in bills sturdy secure fencing where Border Patrol agents have convinced me and the committee is needed. They are invested in smart, 21stcentury technologies that assist those who work on the border. They do not build a solid wall stretching from brownsville, texas to san diego, california. They are not targeted at areas like the Big Bend National park and the arizona forbidden desert. Where Mother Nature secures the border in ways man cannot enhance. Critics complain that putting physical barriers on the border wont work and arent necessary. With respect, i disagree. In 1990s, over 50,000 people were apprehended as they attempted to illegally cross the border in the san diego section. To combat these illegal crossings, cvp security infrastructure improvements, by physical year to 16, the number of apprehensions in that sector had plummeted to 25,000. From 500,000 to 25,000. Similar Success Stories have occurred across the el centro, yuma, tucson and el paso sectors. Im committed to bringing the same success to texas. The bill is focused on National Security and Law Enforcement. It sends a powerful message that if you break our nations laws, and cross the border illegally, youll suffer the consequences, which are apprehension and a guaranteed stay of detention. Here are the additional highlights of the bill. For cvp, in addition to the wall and associated technology, the mark supports increases in the Border Patrol by 500 agents. For i. C. E. , addition to the funds for 44,000 detention beds which is an increase of 4,676 over 2017, 18 million above the request is provided to expand decent security Visa Security Program to two additional highthreat overseas locations. 186 million to increase the investigative and support staff, by 1600 people as requested. For fema. 3 billion for fema grants, training, exercise programs. And increase of 939. 7 million above the request, which includes 25 million increase for Nonprofit Security Grant Program. 7. 3 billion as requested for the Disaster Relief fund. For secret service. 1. 9 billion to insure theyre paid for the work they do. For tsa, full funding for transportation Security Officers to support Aviation Security and keep wait times down low. For coast guard, 19 million as provided for heavy icebreaker to continue programs management activities and design work required to award a production contract, in fiscal year 2019. 500 million for production of the first offshore patrol cutter, a and long lead materials for opc number 2 and 95 million for a fullymissioned c130 j to enhance longrange surveillance capabilities. And for cybersecurity, infrastructure and Infrastructure Protection. 950 million is provided to secure Government Network and prevents cyberattacks. And 380 million for Infrastructure Protection programs, including the eelectrical grid and Emergency Communications systems. The everify, to enable businesses to check whether their employees are eligible to work in the United States is fully funded at 131. 5 million. Colleagues, this is a good bill. I ask you to support it. Ill happy to answer any questions about this mark. Before i do, our Ranking Member is recognized and our full Committee Members for any comments they would like to make. Chairman carter. Pleased to recognize the Ranking Member, mrs. Roblrd. I greatry appreciate how you and your staff have been collegial, collaborative and receptive in developing this bill. We have a good partnership. In working to address the needs of the department of Homeland Security and its dedicated personnel. Because we understand they are the ones doing the critical work of keeping our country safe. The positive aspects of this bill include restoration of femapreparedness grants to current year levels and increases of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program from 25, to 50 million. There are also a significant number of constructive oversight directives in the Draft Committee report and welcome funding levels for departmental oversight components like the office of civil rights and civil liberties. And i am grateful for the additional funding for child care subsidies for coast guard families and the continuation of the cybersecurity internship program. Most alarming, however, is that because of the administrations claim that it is a matter of National Security, this bill recommends a 705 million increase for u. S. Interior Immigration Enforcement. Supporting 44,000 detention beds and increase of 10,000 above last year. And the hiring of 1,000 additional i. C. E. Agents and officers to focus primarily on interior enforcement. There is certainly no disagreement, we should be removing dangerous individuals. However, i. C. E. s interior ens forcement is targeting the parents of unaccompanied children seeking asylum, it is targeting people who have lived, worked and paid taxes in this country for years. And even decades. With no criminal infractions. As a result, i. C. E. Interior arrests of noncriminals are up 157 over last year. These arrests are not required for a National Security or for our public safety. And they are having tragic consequences for individuals, families and communities all over our nation. Many in Law Enforcement tell us people are afraid to report serious crimes and are less willing to come forward, as witnesses to crimes. Teachers tell me that immigrant and United States children alike are afraid to go to school or out to play. For fear their parents will be gone when they return home. The trauma that is being inflicted on entire communities throughout this country cannot be overstated. The only solution to this problem is comprehensive Immigration Reform. Another area of concern is the 1. 6 billion for new border infrastructure. The fy17 funding bill required the secretary to submit a riskbased plan for imposing security along the border. We have yet to receive that plan. How can we support such an enormous cost without a comprehensive plan backed by a clear justification for why it should take priority over other critical investments . For these reasons, i cannot in good conscience support the bill in its current form. Instead of wasting money on an unnecessary wall and the enforcement of discriminatory policies, we should be investing our limited resources to address the real threats posed by dangerous criminal aliens and those who seek to do our country harm. This includes investing more resources in cybersecurity, Human Trafficking investigations and coast guard vessels and aircraft to address our vulnerabilities along the alaskan coast and to enhance our limited drug interdiction efforts. We should be investing more in new customs officers, research and technology and restoring funding for tsas Law Enforcement, vipir and reenforcement agencyings. Being in this country illegally is a civil violation. We should not be spend being excessive amounts of money for civil Immigration Enforcement at the expense of dangerous criminal and terrorist threats. Most of you in this room have family histories of immigrants who came here with little money or little more than the clothing on their backs. They lived with cousins or other relatives until they could get a job and eventually afford a place. If current immigration policies were in place when most American Families came to this land few would have been allowed to enter the United States and many of us would not be here today. My familys history is a little different. My father, Edward Roybal served in this house for 30 years, he was a member of this committee and a cardinal. He was born in 1960 to the roybal family which traces back its roots in this countries eight generations, but the roybofs never came to the United States. Rather, the United States came to the roybols, when the part of mexico they settled in became a u. S. Territory and jim na discriminato enter interdiction interdict n and in 1912, the state of new mexico. Also came to my mothers family, to the part of mexico today known as san diego, california. But no matter how we became americans, the fact is that most of our families came here from somewhere else. The contributions of past newcomers helped make our country the greatest nation in the world. And today, immigrants help keep america great. That reality was recognized by our government in the 1920s. Even after establishing the Border Patrol, setting up our first consular control system requiring visas to be obtained abroad before admission to the u. S. And putting in place numerical caps and quotas based on race and nationality, discretion was given to immigration officials to suspend deportations in meritorious cases and congress created policies allowing many european immigrants in the u. S. Without proper authorization to legalize their status. These rules made it possible for millions of people, including many of our ancestors, to come and remain in the United States and have the opportunity to realize the american dream. Todays immigrants deserve no less. I sincerely respect the fact that many of us have disagreements on how best to enforce our immigration laws. Unfortunately, the president s malignant immigration rhetoric has poisoned the waters and made it difficult for this congress to bridge our differences in a way that protects our homeland while still reflecting our american values. The administration has says the law is the law and we must enforce it, without discretion. Mr. Chairman, just as was true nearly a century ago, our immigration policies are as much a moral question as they are a legal one. Just as other Law Enforcement agencies have discretion in how to enforce our laws, so do agencies like ice and the department of Homeland Security. And just as former members of congress exercise discretion members of this committee have it on how to vote on policies impacting immigrants of today. Im not making an argument for open borders or the elimination of our immigration laws. What i am trying to convey is my hope that, as we Work Together to find the right balance between legal and moral aspects of Immigration Enforcement, we do so guided by the same moral compass and with the same compassion for todays immigrants, many of whom are escaping the same kinds of tragic circumstances as those we welcomed in the past. How can we not take into consideration our impact on real people . Who, by different policies, or of the past, or a different drawing of a border, could be you or me . Mr. Chairman, let me reiterate how much i appreciate the way our subcommittee does its business. Even when we disagree, we do it with respect for one another and with respect for the institution in 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 did not acknowledge and thank my outstanding staff and the majority staff again. Thank you, mr. Chairman and i yield back. Thank the Ranking Member, as well as chairman carter for their remarks and i know our fathers served together and im so proud to be serving with you. We live in the greatest country on the face of the earth and its good to know the ties that bind us are strong. Thank you so much for your remarks. This bill demonstrates our ironclad commitment to safeguarding our homeland and protecting our citizens. In total it provides 44. 3 billion in discretionary funding for the department of Homeland Security, mandated to secure our nation from many threats we face, whether thats terrorism, criminals and illegal goods crossing our borders or attacks on our cyber networks. This is 1. 9 billion above fiscal year 2017 bill we recently passed, a strong investment in our nation, families, neighbors, schools and businesses. Critical resources directed to customs and Border Protection to improve infrastructure and technology and put boots on the ground. This includes 1. 6 million for physical barrier construction along the southern border and a hundred million to hire 500 new Border Patrol agents. The bill also provides for immigrations Customs Enforcement to ensure our laws are followed including funding for additional Law Enforcement officers, detention, removal programs, investigation programs that fight Human Trafficking, drug smuggling and cyber crimes. This xlements what the state bill did recently passed, protect our coasts and stem the flow of illegal goods into and out of the country. The bill provides 10. 5 billion in funding for the coast guard. This legislation addresses over 21st century threats to our nation, as well, namely securing our Cyber Infrastructure against dangerous hacking and cyber attacks, investments into the National Protection and Program Directorate will enhance security of cyberspace. It ensures our nation is ready and able to respond to any emergencies or Natural Disasters fully funding femas disaster account. First line of defense in our community. Id like to thank the subcommittee chair and ranking, as well as all members and may i say the Remarkable Group of men and women behind us who make us look good and have worked on a very expeditious basis to bring this forward today. My pleasure to recognize miss lowey for any comments she may have. Miss lowey . Thank you, chairman. I want to than