Lawmaker urges passage of Homeland Security funding bill, cites cybersecurity and Middle East risks

A lawmaker accused House and Senate Democrats of blocking the Department of Homeland Security funding bill, saying, "Only Trump derangement syndrome can explain why the house Democrats and senate Democrats are blocking the Department of Homeland Security funding bill." The speaker framed the dispute as partisan obstruction of a bill they said supports more than immigration enforcement.

The lawmaker said the contested measure does not concern basic funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection, asserting, "That bill and ICE is already funded for years" and "CBP is already funded for years." Instead, the speaker emphasized other programs covered by the appropriations measure: "But the funding that comes in that bill funds our coast guard, our TSA, our cybersecurity professionals."

Explaining why passage matters now, the lawmaker cited international and cyber risks: "Now especially with conflict in The Middle East is not the time to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security. We could be under attack by Iran. Cybersecurity issues have already risen in our borders already in the last week." The speaker urged colleagues from the opposing party to "step up and meet the moment" and to support the appropriations bill.

The lawmaker also named a fellow member: "I wanna bring up, my friend from Iowa, Air Force veteran representative Zach Nunn." The transcript does not record any formal motion, vote, or response to these remarks.

No specific dollar amounts, bill number, committee actions or votes are recorded in the provided transcript; those details were not specified.