Senate Republicans Once Again Block Bill to Pay TSA Agents

This marks the 7th time Senate Republicans have blocked legislation to fund TSA, CISA, Coast Guard, FEMA, & other important DHS functions as talks to rein in ICE & CBP continue

Washington, D.C. - This afternoon, Senate Republicans once again blocked legislation offered by Senate Democrats to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers while negotiations over common-sense reforms to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continue.

Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) sought unanimous consent to pass legislation to pay all TSA employees, but Senator James Lankford (R-OK) objected.

"No one should be fooling around with the TSA agents. We have our differences-our debates in this chamber. But for the second time in a year, our TSA workers are working without pay because of Washington dysfunction. I believe that if you are working, particularly during a government shutdown, then you should be fully paid. I think it's simply wrong for my Republican colleagues to use these hard-working Americans as leverage, as pawns in what they are presenting as a false choice to the American people," said Senator Warnock. "Here's the choice that they're presenting to us: they're saying to us, either shut down the government-denying working people the money that they have earned-or vote to continue to support the president's paramilitary force that is wreaking havoc in our streets and killing ordinary citizens for exercising their First Amendment rights. That's a false choice, one I simply cannot accept, and it confounds common sense."

"Republicans' refusal to pay TSA agents is maddening," said Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "TSA agents could get paid today if Republicans stopped blocking our attempts to fund TSA-and all of DHS could get funded this week if Republicans agreed to some basic reforms to ICE and Border Patrol. Republicans need to stop holding TSA workers' paychecks hostage as they try to give even more money to ICE."

"Republicans are holding TSA funding hostage-creating long lines at the airport and denying pay to our critical workers-all because they refuse to negotiate commonsense reforms to rein in ICE and stop the violence," said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). "Democrats have given Republicans multiple chances over the past few weeks to stop this logjam and fund this agency. But every time-Republicans have blocked our efforts. Senate Democrats will keep fighting to make sure TSA workers get paid what they're owed."

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

Two weeks ago, 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 Murray sought unanimous consent to pass the bill. But Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) blocked the bill.

Last Wednesday, Senate Republicans:

1. Again 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.

Last Thursday, 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

Today , 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.

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