Hoyer Floor Remarks in Support of H.R. 7481

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered remarks on the House Floor in support of the request by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee, to receive unanimous consent on H.R. 7481, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026. Below are a transcript and video of his remarks:

Click here to watch a video of his remarks.

"Mr. Speaker, I want to speak to the American people through you. So, I address the Speaker and the American people. You must be confused by this debate. We have two relatively new Members of the Congress who have spoken - I came in as Mr. Jack was speaking, and he said that we need to open DHS. We certainly have agreement on about 80% of that, but the Republicans are saying, 'Unless you agree to 100%, we're not going to agree to opening DHS,' [which] ought to be opened during this time of war. The Secret Service could be funded this afternoon; the Speaker just has to say the word. Because our side will vote to open up the agencies, but we have a difference of opinion with respect to two components of DHS that we believe are violating the Constitution of the United States. But we agree that we ought to open [the] Secret Service, we agree that we ought to open FEMA, we agree that we ought to open Cybersecurity [and Infrastructure Security Agency]. But what is your answer to saying, 'But if you don't do it all, we will not open those agencies and have the employees paid,' who, of course, are critical employees. You don't have an answer to that other than you want to muscle through something that [has] been questioned by many courts in this land.

"Now, let me read you a statement that was made by the Border Czar. After the - a court said, 'You must do this,' the Border Czar, Tom Homan, who was in Minneapolis - who, by the way, Border Patrol killed Alex Pretti. Here's what the Border Czar said - and perhaps you don't care, but he said this: 'I don't care what the judges think. I don't care.' Yes, we here on this Floor and the Democrats on the Floor in the United States Senate believe that is improper policy for law enforcement to say, to do, to act, to threaten people with, by 'I don't care what the judges say.' Bring Ms. DeLauro's bill to the Floor. It will pass, it will pass this afternoon, and all of those agencies you have mentioned will be funded. May I have one - 30 second? In addition to that - I don't know that I've heard it mentioned, but in your bill that you passed earlier this year, you funded DHS, you funded ICE with $150 billion. So, don't get on this Floor and pretend that somehow it is not funded, because that is not true. Bring this bill to the Floor. We agree on it overwhelmingly. Do not allow the disagreement to undermine the agreement we have, particularly at a time of war when we ought to be united. I yield back the balance of my time."