Transcription
INCLUDING ICE AND CBP. HERE'S SPEAKER JOHNSON. LET'S LISTEN.
>> Speaker Johnson: GOOD EVENING. IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT. LONG DAY. BUT WE JUST HAD A VERY FRUITFUL ALMOST TWO-HOUR CONFERENCE CALL WITHOUT ALL THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS, AND WE HAVE UNITED GROUP. LET ME JUST BE COMPLETELY UNEQUIVOCAL AND PUT THIS OUT HERE IN THE OPEN, AND IN THE BEGINNING HERE. TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT REPUBLICANS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ANY PART OF ANY EFFORT TO REOPEN OUR BORDERS OR TO STOP IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. WE ARE GOING TO DEPORT DANGEROUS CRIMINAL, ILLEGAL ALIENS BECAUSE IT IS A BASIC FUNCTION OF THE GOVERNMENT. THE DEMOCRATS FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE. THE SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE HOISTED UPON THIS APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, THEIR RADICAL CRAZY AGENDA. WE CALL IT CRAZY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS. THEY WANT TO REOPEN THE BORDERS. AND THEY WANT TO STOP THE DEPORTATION OF DANGEROUS CRIMINAL, ILLEGAL ALIENS. WE HAVE TO DO THESE BASIC FUNDING FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE TO FUND THEM IN ORDER TO DO THEM. AND THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS WE HAVE RECENT EXAMPLES OF DANGEROUS CRIMINALS IN THIS COUNTRY KILLING INNOCENT AMERICANS. WE HAD AN 18-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT IN CHICAGO, A YOUNG LADY WHO WAS SHOT IN THE BACK BY A DANGEROUS CRIMINAL WHO HAD BEEN RELEASED IN THAT SANCTUARY CITY AND FIRST RELEASED AT THE BORDER UNDER JOE BIDEN. THEY OPENED THE BORDER WIDE FOR FOUR YEARS. JUST YESTERDAY, HER LAST 36 HOURS OR SO, 83-YEAR-OLD MAN PUSHED ONTO THE SUBWAY TRACKS AND RUN OVER BY A DANGEROUS CRIMINAL, ILLEGAL ALIEN. THIS HAS TO STOP. THE REPUBLICANS ARE NOT GOING TO BE A PARTY TO THIS. THEY'VE TAKEN HOSTAGE, THE FUNDING PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT SO THAT THEY CAN IMPOSE THEIR RADICAL AGENDA ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND WE CAN'T HAVE ANY PART OF IT.
THIS GAMUT THAT WAS DONE LAST NIGHT IS A JOKE. I'M QUITE CONVINCED THAT IT CAN'T BE THAT EVERY SENATE REPUBLICAN READ THE LANGUAGE OF THIS BILL, AND I'M GOING TO JUST READ YOU ONE EXCERPT OF IT, BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY ALARMING, AND IT SAYS EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN SECTION FOUR OF -- THIS IS ON PAGE TWO OF THE BILL. THIS IS AN ACTUAL COPY OF THE BILL THAT EXCERPT. IT SAYS, "THE CONTENTS PRINTED UNDER THE HEADINGS OF THIS BILLD CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AND BORDER SECURITY OPERATIONS UNDER THE HEADING OF US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL AND PROTECTION SHALL HAVE NO FORCE OR EFFECT FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT AND AMOUNTS SPECIFIED IN THE FINAL BILL UNDER THE SUBHEADING BORDER SECURITY OPERATION AND UNDER THE HEADING U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION AND UNDER THE HEADINGS OF US IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SHALL BE ZERO." WE'RE NOT DOING THAT, AND IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE TO ME THAT THE DEMOCRATS WOULD FORCE SOME SORT OF NEGOTIATION AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING AND TRY TO HOIST THIS AMONG THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THEN GET ON THEIR JETS AND GO HOME FOR THEIR HOLIDAY, AND PRETEND AND THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT RESPONSIBLE THING. REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GOVERN AND DO THE RIGHT THING MORALLY, LITERALLY, LEGALLY AND POLITICALLY. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO TAKE CARE OF US. THE EMPLOYEES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAVE GONE WITHOUT FUNDING AND WITHOUT PAYCHECKS FOR 42 DAYS. IT'S THE SECOND LONGEST SHUTDOWN IN U.S. HISTORY. BESTED ONLY BY THE LONGEST SHUTDOWN IN U.S. HISTORY, THAT THESE SAME MEDICAL DEMOCRATS FOISTED UPON THE GOVERNMENT IN THE FALL OF LAST YEAR. 42 DAYS, THEY'VE GONE WITHOUT PAY. WE'VE HAD, BY SOME ESTIMATES, CLOSE TO 500 TSA AGENTS WHO HAVE RESIGNED FROM THEIR JOBS, AND WHO CAN BLAME THEM? THEY'VE GONE HALF THE FISCAL YEAR WITHOUT A REGULAR PAYCHECK. WE CAN'T ASK THAT OF ANYONE. AND THE LINES AROUND THE AIRLINES AND AT AIRPORTS HAVE BEEN WRAPPED AROUND THE BUILDINGS BECAUSE OF ALL THIS TURMOIL.
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE A STRONG COMMANDER IN CHIEF IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHO HAS TAKEN REAL LEADERSHIP. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ALREADY ORDERED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT TSA AGENTS WILL BE PAID, AND THOSE -- THAT MACHINERY IS IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW. THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET IS WORKING THROUGH THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS. AND WE WILL REDUCE THE LINES AND THE WAITS AT THE AIRLINES, AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE PROTECTING US ARE PAID. BUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS FLOOR ARE -- WE'RE GOING TO PUT A CLEAN, SIMPLE CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT WILL GO INTO A MAY 22ND. IT'S JUST A NUMBER OF WEEKS TO ALLOW FOR ALL THOSE WHO SACRIFICALLY SERVED THE COUNTRY AND PROTECT OTHER AMERICANS, ALL THESE AGENCIES, AT 10 AGENCIES UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WILL CONTINUE AT THEIR CURRENT FUNDING LEVELS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROTECTED. WE'RE GOING TO SEND THAT OVER TO THE SENATE. AND WE HOPE THAT THEY'LL ACCEPT THAT. THEY CAN DO IT IN RECORD TIME JUST LIKE THAT WITH THE UNANIMOUS CONSENT, THEY CAN DO THAT AS EARLY AS MONDAY. AND IN THE MEANTIME, TSA WILL BE PAID. WE WILL HAVE DONE OUR JOBS, AND WE WILL PROTECT THE HOMELAND BECAUSE THAT IS THE MOST BASIC RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONGRESS, IS TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WE'RE NOT PLAYING POLITICAL GAMES ON THIS. BUT WE ENCOURAGE SOME OF OUR DEMOCRATS. HOPEFULLY, WE'LL HAVE SOME OF OUR DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE WHO GO ALONG WITH THIS AND STOP THE PAIN THAT'S BEING FORCED UPON THESE PEOPLE. THAT REASON THAT WE CAN'T ACCEPT THIS RIDICULOUSNESS, OKAY, IS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO RISK NOT FUNDING THE AGENCIES THAT KEEP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAFE. THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS THE THIRD LARGEST DEPARTMENT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IT HAS 10 AGENCIES BENEATH IT. IT'S NOT JUST TSA, BUT IT'S ALSO FEMA, THE COAST GUARD, ALL THESE AGENCIES THAT KEEP US SAFE. WE MUST FUND THEM. THIS IS NOT A GAME. RESPONSIBLE REPUBLICANS WILL DO THE RESPONSIBLE THINGS AND DEMOCRATS WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY POLITICS.
>> MR. SPEAKER, YOU N JOHNSON ARE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE, BUT YOU CAME OUT AND CRITICIZED DEMOCRATS. HE WAS THE ENGINEER BEHIND THIS. WHY ARE YOU NOT ON THE SAME PAGE AND ARE YOU NOT EXTENDING THE SHUTDOWN IF YOU WERE TO ACCEPT WHAT THE SENATE HAD PASSED, THIS COULD END TONIGHT, AND THE TSA LINES WOULD SHRINK.
>> Speaker Johnson: I WOULDN'T CALL JOHN THE ENGINEER OF THIS. CHUCK SCHUMER AND THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE HAVE FORCED THIS UPON THE SENATE. I HAVE TO PROTECT THE HOUSE SPIRIT. LET ME ANSWER THE QUESTION. I HAVE TO PROTECT THE HOUSE, AND I HAVE TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. OUR COLLEAGUES ON THIS SIDE UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT A GAME. THESE PEOPLE WANT OPEN BORDERS AND THEY WANT CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS IN THE COUNTRY. THEY DO NOT WANT TO ENFORCE THE LAW. THEY WANT TO LITERALLY DEFUND. YOU JUST READ IT IN THE BILL HERE. THEY WANT TO GIVE ZERO DOLLARS TO ENFORCING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS AND KEEPING THE BORDERS SECURE. THAT WAS THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN THE ELECTION OF 2024, BUT THE WIDE OPEN BORDER, THAT JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS HOISTED UPON THE COUNTRY. AND 20 MILLION, BY SOME ESTIMATES, 20 MILLION DANGEROUS CRIMINAL, ILLEGAL ALIENS, INCLUDING IN THAT NUMBER, CAME OVER THE BORDER. WE HAVE TERRORISTS IN OUR COUNTRY. WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY MURDERERS THAT ARE PUTTING IT ON DISPLAY. AND THEN THESE BIG BLUE CITIES THAT HAVE SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES THAT ARE RELEASING THESE PEOPLE ONTO THE STREETS. THEY RELEASE THEM OVER THE BORDER WHEN THEY CAME OVER UNDER THE BIDEN YEARS, AND THAT IS THE TURMOIL THAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW. THE VERY SERIOUS THREATS TO HOMELAND AND EVERYBODY. IT'S NOT JUST LONG LINES AT THE AIRPORT. IT IS THE DANGER AND SAFETY OF EVERYONE. WE'LL TALK MORE AFTER THIS IS PAST. WE'LL GET IT DONE.
>> HAS THE PRESIDENT ENDORSED THIS PLAN, MR. SPEAKER? SPEAKER.
>> Speaker Johnson: I SPOKE TO THE PRESIDENT A FEW MOMENTS AGO. HE SUPPORTS IT, YES.
>> THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF -- AND DEMOCRATS, TO THIS PODIUM AND BLAME THE OTHER SIDE. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN STANDING IN LINES THREE, FOUR, OR FIVE HOURS AT A TIME. TSA WORKERS THAT ARE SELLING THEIR PLASMA. AT WHAT POINT IS IT EITHER ON EITHER SIDE GOING TO STAND UP AND SAY, WE HAVE A PATH FORWARD THAT EVERYONE WILL AGREE TO? THIS VOTE TODAY WILL EXTEND THE SHUTDOWN --
>> Speaker Johnson: NO, IT WON'T. THANK YOU. LET ME ANSWER THE QUESTION. I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT UP. THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE NOW VOTED THAT TODAY WILL BE THE FOURTH TIME TO FUND THE HOMELAND SECURITY. THIS IS NOT PARTY PLAYING BLAME GAME. THIS IS A RECORD YOU CAN HOLD UP THE RECORD. LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATS. THEY'RE VOTING OVER AND OVER. LAST NIGHT, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, WE GAVE THEM A CHANCE TO FUND SECURITY. YOU KNOW HOW MANY HOUSE DEMOCRATS VOTED. YES? FOUR OF THEM. THEY WANT TO USE PEOPLE AS PAWNS. PEOPLE ARE NOT PAWNS. THESE ARE WORKERS WHO ARE SACRIFICALLY SERVING THE COUNTRY, MANY OF THEM WITHOUT PAY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES ARE SAFE, AND WE'RE DONE WITH IT. THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL BLAME GAME. THIS IS ONE PARTY DOING THE JOB AND GETTING THE GOVERNMENT FUNDED IN ANOTHER. THAT IS USING PEOPLE AS PAWNS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE THAT. LISTEN, WE'RE GOING TO SEND IT OVER THERE AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY DO. IF THIS IS NOT, YOU SEE, AND YOU DON'T DO IT, THE PRESIDENT HAS SHOWN LEADERSHIP. HE'S GOING TO FUND TSA AGENTS. WE HAVE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY TO TAKE CARE OF. WE'RE NOT ASKING THEM TO DO ANYTHING HEROIC. THESE AREN'T PARTISAN GAMES. WE'RE NOT ADDING BELLS AND WHISTLES TO THIS. IT IS A CLEAN, CONTINUATION OF FUNDING.