WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04), member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on her opposition to the latest Republican funding package:
“I believe in the five remaining funding bills — Defense; Financial Services; Labor; Health & Human Services; Education, State & Foreign Operations; and THUD — and have demonstrated that support with my votes.
If these were normal times, I would be a firm ‘Yes’ vote. I want round-after-round of temporary spending bills to stop. I want all federal workers paid.
But these are not normal times. We are in a dangerous and deadly place. This funding package also includes a continuing resolution for DHS until February 13 — meaning ICE agents can continue their grotesque and thuggish behavior. Meaning Congress has only ten days to agree on reform.
ICE agents have killed two Americans in Minneapolis. Two journalists have been arrested. Children have been taken from their homes and U.S. citizens have been unjustly detained. Thirty-five people have died in ICE custody and 15 have been shot.
DHS already received $165 billion in the Republicans’ One Big Bill, with ICE getting a massive $75 billion infusion.
I supported these five bills when we were last here. They are better because of Democratic leadership. But the murder of American citizens by our government forces me to use my leverage in the minority — my vote — to say not one more dime for ICE until their lawless, anti-American behavior ends.”
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
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