Congresswoman Brown Joins Legislative Effort to Fund TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard and Other Lawful DHS Agencies

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) has signed a discharge petition to force a vote on legislation introduced by Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) that funds the TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, CISA and the parts of the Department of Homeland Security that do not include ICE and the Trump mass deportation machine. 

Democrats in the House and Senate continue to fund the lawful and accountable parts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Republicans have rejected these efforts to shield ICE and CBP from any reforms. 

“Trump’s dangerous ICE and CBP have made America less safe, acting lawlessly and recklessly for months – and because of their actions American citizens have been killed. But instead of working with Democrats to put up guardrails and protect civil rights, Republicans have shutdown all of DHS, punishing TSA workers and members of the Coast Guard and using their livelihoods as leverage to serve Trump. It’s wrong. I’m proud to join this further effort to fund the parts of DHS that are following the law,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. 

A discharge petition is a legislative tool in the House of Representatives that forces a vote on legislation if a majority of members sign the petition. Last year, House Democrats used this tool to force a vote on legislation to release the Epstein Files. 

According to analysis by ProPublica, more than 170 U.S. citizens have been detained by ICE agents and according to the conservative Cato Institute only 5% of people detained by ICE have violent convictions. 

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