Senate Republicans Block Bills to Fund TSA, Other Parts of DHS for the 9th Time

Senate Republicans have now blocked legislation to fund TSA, CISA, Coast Guard, FEMA, & other important DHS functions 9 times, as talks to rein in ICE & CBP continue

Senate Republicans have blocked TSA pay 6 times

Washington, D.C. - This afternoon, Senate Republicans once again blocked two bills offered by Senate Democrats to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers and to fund all of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) except Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) while talks on ICE and CBP continue.

First , Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) sought unanimous consent to pass legislation to pay all TSA employees, but Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) objected.

"Today, I took to the Senate floor to try to pass funding for TSA, and my Republican colleagues said no. They are holding all the other Homeland Security agencies hostage because of ICE. Set ICE aside while we negotiate reforms. Fund everything else today," said Senator Slotkin.

Then , Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) sought unanimous consent to pass legislation to fund all of DHS except for ICE, CBP, and the DHS Secretary's office, but Senator James Lankford (R-OK) objected.

"Democrats tried repeatedly to pass a bill that would fund TSA, the Coast Guard, FEMA and CISA, but Republicans continue to block it. There is no reason to punish federal workers and the American people as we continue working on reforms to ICE," said Senator Schatz.

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"TSA agents will soon miss a second full paycheck, but Republicans are still blocking very straightforward bills to at minimum make sure they get paid," said Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "Republicans are refusing to pay TSA agents unless Congress provides even more money to ICE without basic reforms. That's a ridiculous false choice. It's past time Republicans stop holding TSA agents hostage as they drag their feet on common sense steps to rein in ICE and Border Patrol."

"Six times Senate Democrats have put a clean TSA funding bill on the floor - no poison pills, no partisan riders, no excuses. Six times, Republicans have blocked it. Republicans are choosing to withhold pay from TSA officers - choosing longer lines, more delays, and more chaos for American travelers - and choosing to hold critical funding for CISA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard hostage over political demands. The contrast couldn't be clearer: Democrats are fighting to pay TSA workers and keep Americans safe. Republicans are choosing politics over paychecks and dysfunction over public safety," said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

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Senate Republicans have now-on nine separate occasions-blocked bills to fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, Coast Guard, and other important DHS functions:

Two weeks ago, Senate Republicans:

1. Blocked a bill offered by Senator Murray to fund all of DHS except for ICE, CBP, and the DHS Secretary's office while negotiations on ICE and Border Patrol continue. Senator Murray sought unanimous consent to pass the bill. But Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) blocked the bill.
   

Last Wednesday, Senate Republicans:

1. Again blocked Senator Murray's bill to fund all of DHS except for ICE, CBP, and the DHS Secretary's office while talks continue.Senator Murray sought unanimous consent to pass the bill. But Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) blocked the bill.
   

Last Thursday, Senate Republicans:

1. Blocked a bill offered by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) to pay TSA workers while broader negotiations continue.Senator Rosen sought unanimous consent to pass the legislation. But Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) blocked the bill.
   
2. Blocked a bill offered by Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) to fund CISA while broader negotiations continue.Senator Kim sought unanimous consent to pass the bill. But Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) blocked the bill.
   
3. Blocked a bill offered by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) to ensure members of the Coast Guard are paid while broader negotiations continue. Senator Murphy sought unanimous consent to pass the bill. But Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) blocked the bill.
   
4. Blocked a bill offered by Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) to fund FEMA while broader negotiations continue.Senators Padilla and Schiff sought unanimous consent to pass the bill. But Senator James Lankford (R-OK) blocked the bill.
   

Yesterday , Senate Republicans:

1. Blocked a bill offered by Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) to pay TSA workers while broader negotiations continue.Senator Warnock sought unanimous consent to pass the legislation. But Senator blocked the bill.
   

Today , Senate Republicans:

1. Blocked a bill offered by Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) to pay TSA workers while broader negotiations continue.
   

Senator Slotkin sought unanimous consent to pass the legislation. But Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) blocked the bill.

1. Blocked a bill offered by Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) to fund all of DHS except for ICE, CBP, and the DHS Secretary's office while talks continue.
   

Senator Schatz sought unanimous consent to pass the bill. But Senator James Lankford (R-OK) blocked the bill.

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