The House Appropriations Committee unveiled Wednesday a proposed 2016 spending bill for Homeland Security that bars the use of funds for President Obama’s executive amnesty for illegal immigrants.
The bill, which slightly trims spending on homeland security from current levels, prohibits spending on any activity related to Mr. Obama’s amnesty plan while the issue is being fought in the courts.
The legislation provides $39.3 billion in discretionary funding for the department, a decrease of $337 million below the fiscal 2015 enacted level and $2.1 billion below Mr. Obama’s request.
“Safeguarding our homeland, strengthening our borders, enforcing our immigration laws, and protecting our people from the threat of terrorism and devastating natural disasters — this is the core mission of this legislation,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, Kentucky Republican. “It will target funds to these areas, making the most of each dollar, while trimming back programs that are lower-priority or that have not been proven productive.”
Rep. John Carter, chairman of the subcommittee for Homeland Security, said the legislation focused on border security, law enforcement and fiscal responsibility.
“This bill rejects the president’s attempt to undermine our laws and uses the tax payers’ dollars in a fiscally responsible manner by promoting reforms within DHS, and reducing ineffectual offices and programs,” he said. “Additionally, this bill requires the president to enforce current law as it is written, not as he would like to interpret it by executive order. We must provide for our nation’s security and enforce the law while exercising fiscal restraint, which is what this bill offers.”
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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