VIDEO: Senate Republicans Block Rosen’s Attempt to Pay TSA Agents

Watch Senator Rosen's Full Remarks HERE.

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senate Republicans blocked Senator Jacky Rosen's (D-NV) attempt to pass her bill to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers amidst the Republican shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Travelers across the country are facing hours-long security lines and TSA officers are being forced to work with no pay. Senator Rosen's bill would ensure TSA agents do not miss a paycheck, despite Washington Republicans continuing to hold DHS funding hostage over their refusal to reform ICE.

Senator Rosen has been outspoken about her criticism of the Trump Administration's immigration policies and ICE tactics. In January, she called for guardrails for ICE agents, and announced her support for the impeachment of former Secretary Kristi Noem. Senator Rosen has also been a strong advocate for Nevada's tourism industry and workers, successfully pushing for the reopening of trusted traveler programs.

Below is a transcript of Senator Rosen's remarks:

"We're almost a month into the Republican shutdown of Homeland Security. The Republicans control the house, the white house, and the senate so let's remember how we got here. Donald Trump and Kristi Noem were so, so eager to carry out their cruel deportation agenda that they cut training for ice officers from five months - imagine this - to 47 days.

"Why 47 days? Well, you can't even make it up. Because it honors Donald Trump, who is the 47th president. You cut down 500 days to 47 days. What are you thinking about adequate training? By cutting training, increasing recruitment, Trump and Kristi Noem sent thousands of untrained agents with their guns and badges into communities all across this country.

"They added deportation quotas for these officers to meet, and Trump and Kristi Noem pushed these untrained officers to round up as many people as they could, and that included legal immigrants and American citizens.

"Instead of focusing on deporting violent criminals - something we all agree on - they went after legal permanent residents, visa holders, and law-abiding citizens, all with devastating consequences, when we saw two of our fellow Americans brutally murdered in Minneapolis..

"The American people were rightfully horrified and angry, and they demanded accountability -which is exactly what Senate Democrats are pushing for.

"We proposed a commonsense and basic idea: that ICE officers should be required to follow the same standards that local law enforcement officers should be required to follow. The same standards that law enforcement, all of my colleagues here, your local law enforcement have to follow. That's it. We want ICE officers to: Wear body cams, To end roving patrols, To use judicial warrants, And to respect people's rights.

"It should be a no-brainer.

"Democrats have been ready and willing in good faith to enact these commonsense reforms, fund the department and keep our country safe, and shamefully, our Republican colleagues have refused to pass these reforms. They would rather see the Department of Homeland Security shutdown than pass commonsense guardrails to hold ICE accountable, rein them in.

"As a result, the American people are paying the price.

"Travelers at our airports seeing longer lines, TSA officers being forced to work without pay.

"I know how serious the situation is. My state relies heavily on tourism. More than 50 million visitors travel to Nevada every year to attend conventions, visit our beautiful public lands, enjoy live entertainment, sports, and we support hundreds of thousands of hospitality workers. Air travel, the gateway to our economy.

"So when TSA staffing levels drop because officers aren't getting paid, wait times at airport security checkpoints, they stretch longer and longer. It doesn't just inconvenience travelers. It does inconvenience security, threatens livelihoods across our states.

"That's why I rise today with a very simple, practical proposal: If we cannot move forward with funding the entire department, sitting down and negotiating in good faith, we should be able to come together to pay the hardworking staff of one of its most essential components: TSA.

"Let's not have TSA officers be caught in the middle of this fight. They don't deserve it. We all agree their salaries should be funded, so let's do it.

"Today I am going to ask my colleagues to take a simple step, let's pass my legislation right now, pay TSA workers, so that commercial air travel remains safe and functional, and our TSA agents receive the pay they have earned.

"I am introducing this bill today with Commerce Committee Ranking Member Cantwell so that we can finally get our airports moving again.

"If Republicans are going to insist on shutting down the Department of Homeland Security, they should at the very least join us in ensuring the traveling public does not pay the price.

"They even implied in their own tweet that they're for funding TSA. Tweets are easy. Talk is easy. Will they back up what they say with their vote, we're about to find out. So, I ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4073 submitted earlier today that would fund the TSA. That the bill be considered a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table."

The presiding officer: "Is there objection? The senator from Ohio is recognized."

Sen. Moreno: "Reserving the right to object."

###