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Lawmaker warns shutdown would 'punish' travelers and disaster victims
Summary
A lawmaker said in brief remarks that a government shutdown tied to an immigration enforcement dispute should not halt TSA screening, FEMA disaster relief or Coast Guard operations, calling such a shutdown punishment of the American public.
A lawmaker said they were "on my way to the Senate floor" and warned that a government shutdown tied to a dispute over immigration enforcement would unfairly "punish the American public" by halting critical services such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Coast Guard.
The speaker, identified in the transcript only as a lawmaker (S1), said there is "no reason to punish the traveling public or people who need disaster relief or people who rely on our Coast Guard . . . for safety." The remarks framed a distinction between the ongoing disagreement over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the operation of agencies that provide travel security and disaster response.
The lawmaker acknowledged a separate dispute about ICE policy, saying "we're in a disagreement about ICE and we're going to keep fighting on that," and argued that that disagreement should not be a reason to curtail TSA screenings, FEMA assistance or Coast Guard operations.
The comments in the transcript do not record any formal motion, vote or commitment to a specific timetable for resolving the dispute. The lawmaker described their intent to continue opposing the ICE position mentioned but did not specify legislative steps, votes or allied colleagues.
The matter remained unresolved in the recorded remarks: the lawmaker urged protection of travel and disaster-relief services while acknowledging the political disagreement that could lead to broader negotiations or brinkmanship on funding and operations.
