(THE HILL) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson on Tuesday argued new investments to protect the U.S. border cannot be made if Congress fails to pass a 2015 spending bill for his department.
“Border security is not free,” he said in a statement. “Time is running out. I urge Congress to act responsibly and pass a clean appropriations bill for this Department.”
Congress has less than 10 days in session, with next week’s five-day recess, to pass an appropriations bill by Feb. 27 that funds the agency. Republicans and Democrats, however, are at an impasse because the House-passed spending bill would reverse President Obama’s immigration actions from 2011, 2012 and 2014. If lawmakers can’t reach an agreement, the department could shut down.
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