🧐 74 Days. That’s how long the Department of Homeland Security has been shutdown. Our U.S. Coast Guard servicemen, who are in a war zone with the U.S. Navy enforcing the Iran blockade, are still without pay and many of their their stateside family housing units are on the verge of losing basic utilities. More than 6,000 Coast Guard families could imminently lose their electricity and water service.
Not to mention - the United States Secret Service is still protecting our leaders through multiple armed encounters and are putting it all in the line without pay and resources.
These are only two examples of federal DHS agencies who are being stretched beyond thin. These are All-American employees and families who are forced to go without because of inept negotiations. This is shameful.
DHS funding never should have been separated from the spending bill. Separating a politically-vulnerable, hot topic like DHS was a critical mistake.
This is a leadership failure. Only a couple of Congressmen are voluntarily going without pay during this shutdown. My opponent certainly isn’t one of those. I’ve challenged him to do so several times. I’ve been there, without pay, as a Border Patrol Agent.
Clear, deliberate, stubborn negotiations must happen until a funding deal comes through. All of Congress needs to stay put until the work is complete. No days off, no pay, no breaks, no excuses- just get it done!