Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) expressed confidence on Sunday that the Senate-backed bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would pass if it reached the House floor.
In an interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Sen. Kim highlighted the bipartisan nature of the bill, which received unanimous support in the Senate. This bill now sits in the House of Representatives, waiting for a vote.
“What we know is that we have a bill that passed the Senate unanimously, a bipartisan piece of legislation that sits over at the House of Representatives,” Sen. Kim stated. “If that bill were to come to the House floor, I believe it would have strong support and would pass.”
This statement from Sen. Kim comes as the government shutdown over funding for the DHS enters its third week. President Trump has insisted on including funding for a border wall in any spending bill, while Democrats have refused to include it.
However, with the Senate bill being a clean funding bill for the DHS without any mention of a border wall, Sen. Kim believes it has the potential to break the impasse and end the shutdown.
“We have a bill that has nothing to do with a wall, and I think that’s what the American people want,” Sen. Kim said. “They want a functioning government, they want a secure border, but they also want us to be responsible in how we go about doing it.”
With both Democrats and Republicans supporting the Senate bill, it is a truly bipartisan effort to fund the DHS and end the shutdown. In a time of deep political division, this bill is a shining example of how lawmakers from both parties can come together to serve the best interests of the American people.
One of the main concerns with the ongoing shutdown is the impact it is having on the safety and security of the nation. With thousands of DHS employees working without pay, border security and other critical operations are being compromised. Sen. Kim emphasized the urgency of ending the shutdown and providing funding for the DHS.
“This is a matter of national security, and these are people that are doing their jobs every single day to make sure that our country is safe,” he said. “It’s time that we pass this bill and let them get back to work.”
Sen. Kim’s optimism about the Senate-backed bill passing in the House is not unfounded. A group of bipartisan House members have already introduced similar legislation that would fund the DHS without providing any money for the border wall. This further showcases the growing support for a clean funding bill for the DHS.
As the American people continue to feel the effects of the government shutdown, it is clear that there is a strong desire for a solution that is not tied to a border wall. The Senate bill provides just that, and it is now up to the House to pass it and end the shutdown.
In the spirit of bipartisanship, it is time for both Democrats and Republicans to put their differences aside and work together to fund the DHS and reopen the government. As Sen. Kim stated, “This is a time when we need to come together as Americans, not as Democrats and Republicans.”
The Senate-backed bill to fund the DHS is a golden opportunity for Congress to show that they can work together to serve the best interests of the American people. It is time for the House to bring this bill to the floor and pass it with the same unanimous support that it received in the Senate.
The American people are counting on their elected representatives to end the shutdown and provide much-needed funding for the Department of Homeland Security. It is time for Congress to do its job and pass this bipartisan bill. Let us hope that the House will follow Sen. Kim’s confident prediction and pass the bill, bringing an end to the government shutdown and ensuring the safety and security of our nation.
