Pennsylvania U.S. House Democrats to Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senators: Oppose DHS Funding Bill Without Critical Reforms

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 27, 2026) - Today, Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03) and his six fellow U.S. House Democrats from Pennsylvania jointly sent a delegation letter to Pennsylvania's senators urging them both to oppose a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that does not include critical reforms. The letter was also signed by Representatives Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Summer Lee (PA-12) and Chris Deluzio (PA-17).

Last week, the entire Pennsylvania Democratic delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives voted against an appropriations bill that included funding for DHS. The final vote was 220-207, passing the House chamber with only seven Democratic votes - and none of those seven were from Pennsylvania.

The letter sent to Pennsylvania Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Dave McCormick (R-PA) by today comes as the Senate is set to vote on the spending bill that currently includes DHS funding this week.

In the letter, the seven Pennsylvania House members write, "We urge you to oppose any legislation that provides funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without first securing meaningful, enforceable reforms to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and related DHS agency activity. The DHS Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations bill in front of the Senate for consideration this week does not include such reforms, and we urge you to oppose it. We voted against this bill last week and ask that you do the same."

The members continue: "Funding without adequate reform risks endorsing current approaches that undermine public safety and due process, erode American liberties, and weaken public trust."

Congressman Evans provided this additional comment: "Senate Republicans can and should separate DHS funding from their budget package - Americans need accountability, not another Republican government shutdown."

The full text of the letter is available here. The Philadelphia Inquirer piece about the PA Democratic Delegation letter is here.