WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today urging Congressional leaders to pass a clean funding bill that will ensure the continued full operations of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):

“The Department of Homeland Security plays a critical role in protecting Americans from the serious threats that confront our nation each and every day. That’s why I simply cannot understand why we would jeopardize their ability to plan and operate missions that range from preventing terrorism and blocking cyber-attacks to managing our borders and ensuring national emergency preparedness. The DHS budget – and all that it accomplishes – should not be a political football. I hope we can pass a clean bill and then undertake the substantive work on reforming our nation’s broken immigration system.”

Without appropriate funding for the Department of Homeland Security, operations at the Department will cease in less than thirty days.

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