Senate Republicans Reject Pay for TSA & Continue Blocking Overdue ICE Reforms

WASHINGTON, DC -- This afternoon, in a 41-49 vote, every Senate Republican present voted against a measure brought up by Senate Democrats to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers while negotiations over funding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and measures to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continue.

After the vote, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, stated:

"Senate Republicans continue to block pay for hardworking TSA agents and punish air travelers because they think it gives them leverage to push for more money and fewer restrictions for out of control ICE and CPB operations. It does not. Democrats are committed to protecting the rights of all Americans and holding DHS officials accountable for abusing their power, wasting tax payer dollars, and trampling on the rights of Americans across the country.

"We could fund TSA and pass bipartisan reforms to safeguard Americans today, but the Trump White House continues to slow walk negotiations. They see punishing TSA as a way to punish federal workers and bring them closer to privatizing TSA."

REPUBLICANS CONTINUE REJECTING PAY FOR TSA AND OTHER KEY FEDERAL AGENCIES:

Senate Republicans have now -- on 10 separate occasions -- blocked bills to fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, Coast Guard, and other important DHS functions:

On March 5, 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 Patty Murray (D-WA) sought unanimous consent to pass the bill. But Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) blocked the bill.

On March 11, Senate Republicans:

1. Once again Republicans 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.

On March 12, 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.

On March 18, 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 James Lankford (R-OK) blocked the bill.

On March 19, 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.

Today, Senate Republicans:

1. Voted against straightforward legislation to pay TSA workers while broader negotiations continue.

Every Senate Republican present (49 in total) for today's voted against the bill to pay TSA workers.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Tweet