Rep. Panetta Statement Following No Vote on Department of Homeland Security Funding Bill

Washington, DC - Rep. Panetta released the following statement:

"I voted no on the appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). My vote came down to priorities. I'm focused on reducing costs for working families in California's 19^th Congressional District, especially when it comes to decreasing prices for housing, healthcare, food, fuel, and childcare. This Administration, however, is focused on sending masked agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CPB) into our communities to troll parking lots of big box stores and target, harass, and, as we witnessed recently, harm community members and American citizens.

"This Administration's deportation policy is going well beyond targeting felons and gang members. Instead, ICE and CPB officers, many who appear to be recently recruited, rushed through training in 47 days, poorly trained, and unprofessional, are injected into communities with masks and without body cameras, which is leading to violent and deadly confrontations. Moreover, as we experienced after the shooting of Rene Nicole Good in Minneapolis, the Administration, including the President, provides irresponsible defenses and explanations for this ineptitude and aggression, which appear to normalize brutality, violence, and lawlessness, rather than accountability and transparency.

"The DHS appropriations bill does nothing to rein in and control ICE and CPB. Congress must work together to ensure proper oversight of DHS, including basic accountability measures, including no masks, warrant requirements, bans on deporting American citizens, proper training, and body cameras. These are standard practices in many law enforcement agencies. But none of those procedures were included in the DHS appropriations legislation. The Congressional power of the purse is one of our Constitutional tools to demand accountability, and that is why I voted no.

"I also continue to call for an independent investigation into the shooting of an American citizen in Minneapolis for transparency and accountability, the removal of Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller and DHS Secretary Noem, and impeachment proceedings based on the Congressional investigations in the House Committees on Homeland Security and Judiciary. I support legislation to help control ICE and CBP, including bills to limit force and require de-escalation training, hold agents accountable when they break the law, ban masks for agents, limit enforcement in sensitive areas, limit authority to target citizens of a specific nation, and redirect partisan approved funding to help people afford healthcare. I continue my work on immigration reform to fix our asylum system and help legalize those who work hard, play by the rules, and contribute to our economy and communities.

"My priority in Congress is to fight for the values and serve the people of our home. That includes voting against funding bills so that Congress can provide proper oversight, transparency, and accountability of federal agencies and the executive branch. That is how Congress lives up to our responsibilities of checks and balances under Article One of the U.S. Constitution. To help fulfill that goal, I will continue my fight against the backward priorities of this Administration and work hard to fulfill our priorities by investing in accountability, safety, and affordability for working families."