Southwestern Pennsylvania’s two Democratic members of Congress voted against a spending bill that includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security, citing its concerns over President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts.
The Republican-controlled House managed to pass the spending bill Thursday despite objections from Democrats, 220 votes to 207.
“My ‘no’ vote today is because I do not think the Congress should authorize public money to a department that is being run without proper oversight, accountability, or regard for the rule of law without addressing those issues,” U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Fox Chapel, said in a statement.
“There are real guardrails we need to put around the conduct of (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in this moment, and I do not think this bill does that,” Deluzio added.
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, who also voted against the spending bill, introduced ICE-related legislation prior to Thursday’s vote.
The legislation, dubbed the “Melt ICE Act,” would end Homeland Security’s funding to detain or monitor immigrants and redirect that funding to wrap-around services such as housing and health care in communities affected by immigration enforcement efforts, according to Lee.
The spending bill approved Thursday included $3.84 billion for ICE custody operations and $5.45 billion for enforcement and removal operations, Lee said.
The legislation introduced by Lee and four of her Democratic colleagues “is a step towards abolishing an agency designed to brutalize immigrants and people of color,” Lee said in a statement. The proposal was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Southwestern Pennsylvania’s two Republican congressmen, U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly of Butler and Guy Reschenthaler of Peters, both voted in favor of the Homeland Security spending bill.
Kelly, Reschenthaler and Deluzio also voted in favor of separate spending bills to fund departments including Defense, Education, Transportation, and Health and Human Services, while Lee voted against the bills. It was the final batch of spending bills to fund the federal government this fiscal year.
