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Congress contradicts security

By Staff | Feb 25, 2015

To the editor:

The U.S. House of Representatives has been most vocal about maximizing border security. Now the U.S. is engaged in a war against ISIS, making those efforts more important than ever. Immigrants and terrorists are of increased concern. So, when will Congress fund Homeland Security for 2015? Funding expires within a week! Is there a valid reason to delay this authorization?

Will this upcoming bill look like the last funding bill passed in 2014 that was loaded with a Republican wish list in the form of unacceptable amendments, or can Congress pass a clean bill dealing only the funding of Homeland Security? Nancy Pelosi called the last funding bill “blackmail” of the president’s agenda. These bills play games with our national security!

Now in February, this is a second opportunity to add unfavorable amendments to the current Homeland Security bill. If this happens again, it is certainly neglecting the issue of security for the U.S. Most high-ranking military officials believe that ISIS terrorists could cause havoc and destruction here if we are not exceptionally diligent on our borders.

It is hard not to question Congress’s patriotism. It is hard not to question motives for not funding national security. It is easy to question priorities of the U. S. House, inasmuch as they have received a request from Obama to have authorization under the War Powers Act to continue the war against ISIS in both Iraq and Syria.

Congress has three options:

– Pass a clean bill funding for 2015

– Pass a bill loaded with unacceptable amendments

– Play games and defer the issue in a short-term funding bill so to allow for more strings to be attached

I truly believe Congress must act responsibly or answer to the American people for whom they work! Please call your Congressman today: Tom Rooney, District 17, (202) 225-5792; or Curt Clawson, District 19, (202) 225-2536.

Joan Patterson

Lehigh Acres