Hakeem Jeffries

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague, the distinguished gentleman from the great State of California, Representative Mike Thompson, for yielding and for his leadership. We are here on the House floor debating this resolution that Republicans have introduced on tax day to celebrate themselves. This is an extraordinary thing. I have seen a lot during my time here in the United States Congress for more than 10 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this partisan political stunt that Republicans have brought to the floor masquerading as legitimate legislation. There is a bipartisan bill that, if brought to the floor today, can end the 42-day Trump-Republican shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, but Republicans have concluded that they would rather continue to force TSA agents to work without pay, inconvenience millions of Americans all across the country, and create chaos at airports. Why is this happening?

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this Republican budget that prioritizes ICE brutality over the American people. We are now more than 40 days into a Trump Republican shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Why are we here? Republicans are trying to convince the American people that Democrats should be blamed. Wait a second. Last time I checked, Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. You spent the last 15 months trying to lecture the American people that you have some historic mandate.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the distinguished gentleman from Queens and the great State of New York, the once and future chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Meeks, for his leadership and for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the American people, in support of our men and women in uniform, in support of the United States Constitution, and in support of this War Powers Resolution.