WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) released the following statement on the passage of H.R. 2217, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The bill provides the budgetary funding for the 2014 Fiscal Year for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and passed on a bipartisan 245-182 vote.

Rep. Peters said, “This appropriation bill does a lot of good. It funds infrastructure investments to reduce border waits and adds Customs and Border Protection officers who play a significant role in securing our border and supporting San Diego’s economy.

“I voted against the last-minute insertion of the controversial King Amendment that would open the door to DREAM Act students being deported; the amendment is petty politics at its worst and is extremely frustrating. Despite my vote against it, the amendment made it into the bill. I have long supported the idea that students working to improve their education and looking to contribute to our economy should not be forced to live in fear. I am disappointed that the majority is apparently not interested in seriously dealing with the issues facing our nation, including sequestration and immigration reform, but is instead focused on political gamesmanship.

“In the end I joined with several other Democratic colleagues who represent border region constituencies and voted for the bill, despite Rep. King’s offensive amendment, because we cannot play games when it comes to border security, and the men and women who enforce it. I will wholeheartedly call on the Senate and the conference committee to remove the amended language in conference and will do everything I can to support all efforts to fix this.”

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