Thune: Democrats Put Political Games Above Public Safety, National Security

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WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Thune's remarks below (as delivered):

"Mr. President, today is day 32 of Democrats' shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

"On Thursday, Democrats once again blocked the Senate from proceeding to a DHS funding bill - a bill, I should note, that already includes a number of reforms to immigration enforcement: more money for body cameras, deescalation training, and additional oversight of immigration enforcement activities.

"And getting on this bill would not have precluded additional reforms from being added.

"But for the fourth time now, Democrats stopped the Senate from proceeding to consideration of this legislation.

"Mr. President, for weeks Democrats have spoken about the urgent need for reforms to immigration enforcement.

"But it's Democrats who have been the biggest obstacle to getting those reforms enacted.

"The Trump administration took a number of steps - on its own, I might add - to reform immigration enforcement.

"And on top of that, the White House made two substantial and serious offers to Democrats to legislate reforms - the most recent of which was sent more than two weeks ago.

"But Democrats couldn't even be bothered to respond to the White House's latest offer until late last night.

"Eighteen days, Mr. President - 18 days - for Democrats to even bother replying!

"And that offer - Democrats' third - was basically the same as their first two offers.

"No compromise, and still filled with a number of nonstarters that would make it more dangerous for law enforcement officers to do their jobs.

"Meanwhile, on the Senate floor, the best Democrats have been able to offer is funding some DHS agencies and leaving others unfunded.

"It's really pretty remarkable, Mr. President.

"Last summer, Democrats threw a fit over Republicans' rescissions package that cut just $9 billion in federal spending.

"A fraction of a fraction of a percent of the entire federal budget.

"Now to hear Democrats talk, they seem to think that entire agencies - especially the agencies that secure our border and enforce immigration laws - are dispensable.

"The Democrat leader had the audacity to call this a 'moderate' plan last week.

"Mr. President, when did defunding law enforcement become a mainstream position in this country?

"Now, this might be considered moderate for Democrats, but I think the average American would view it as extreme.

"Mr. President, we are now a month into Democrats' second shutdown since October.

"And like their record-long shutdown in the fall, the victims of this shutdown are beginning to pile up.

"TSA agents are working without pay.

"A significant number of agents are calling out sick, leading to long wait times and lines stretching into airport parking garages.

"CBS reports that 300 TSA agents have quit since this shutdown began.

"And that's on top of the 1,100 agents who quit after Democrats' shutdown in the fall.

"And it's pretty darn understandable, if you think about it.

"What do you do when - for two out of the last six months - you have to work without pay?

"Well, that's what Democrats have put these people through.

"So it's more than understandable that they might be thinking that there's got to be an easier way to earn a living.

"I heard from one TSA agent in South Dakota who is at the end of her rope.

"She writes, and I quote, 'It is very hard to live without getting paid … I do not know how long I can keep doing this.'

"Well, that's what happens, Mr. President, in a shutdown - real people get hurt.

"But if you ask the senior senator from [Hawaii] - a member of the Democrat leadership - he says, and I quote, 'We are very serene with what is going on.'

"'Very serene,' Mr. President.

"I suppose that's not a surprising statement considering the Democrat leader characterized Democrats' last shutdown in the fall by saying, and I quote, 'Every day gets better for us.'

"'Very serene.'

"'Every day gets better for us.'

"For Democrats, a government shutdown is just fine as long as it seems to be working for them politically - no matter whether it's hurting hardworking Americans.

"No matter if it's jeopardizing public safety and national security.

"And, Mr. President, make no mistake, Democrats' shutdown is harming hardworking Americans and putting national security in jeopardy.

"Our country is facing a heightened threat environment right now.

"A few examples of that:

"Stryker - a medical tech company - was the victim of an Iran-linked cyberattack last week.

"ISIS-inspired individuals attempted to detonate bombs targeting protesters outside the home of the mayor of New York City last weekend.

"And on Thursday, we saw two tragic attacks take place.

"One of those, in Virginia, was perpetrated by an individual who was arrested in 2016 for attempting to provide material support to ISIS.

"The other - an attack on a Detroit-area synagogue - was perpetrated by an individual who is reported to have had connections to known or suspected Hezbollah terrorists.

"Mr. President, this is no time for Democrats' political games.

"Republicans are at the table and ready to work whenever Democrats are done playing."

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