Plaskett urges long-term clean funding for Homeland Security
VI Delegate concerned short term continuing resolution will hinder administration of critical grant funding to emergency management programs in the territory
With Congress voting to fund the Department of Homeland Security for one week, Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett is urging House Republicans to consider a long-term clean funding bill to keep the department running through fiscal year 2015.
Plaskett said a short term continuing resolution will likely impeded the administration of grant funding critical to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“A short term continuing resolution, will jeopardize the $2.5 billion in grant funding DHS awards to state and local governments, including nearly $1 million to the territory through the State Homeland Security Program,” Plaskett said.
“Not only will this render our borders less secure, but it will also affect FEMA’s ability to prepare and provide relief for future weather related disasters, and provide necessary training and support to our local law enforcement apparatus,” The freshman congresswoman added.
“The U.S.-Caribbean border is considered the ‘Third Border,’ which the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has referred to as an ‘open door for drug traffickers and terrorists.’ Our shores represent another point of entry for illegal drugs, guns, and undocumented immigrants into the United States. A failure to adequately fund the DHS would likely result in an inability to effectively manage and support much of the homeland security infrastructure that was built following the terrorist attacks on September, 11th,” Plaskett said.
Although House Rules do not allow for Plaskett to have a vote on a DHS funding bill, she has voiced her support for a long-tem clean funding bill on the House Floor earlier this week, and has met with DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security Bennie Thompson.
