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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chairman Thompson to
Secretary Nielsen: Your Refusal to Testify on Border Security Is
Unacceptable
The Secretary outrageously attempts to use the President’s shutdown as
an excuse not to come before Congress
January 29, 2019 (WASHINGTON) – Today,
Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland
Security, sent the below letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen
Nielsen, calling on her to reconsider her refusal to testify before the
Committee next week:
Dear Secretary Nielsen:
Your decision to refuse my invitation
to testify before the Committee on Homeland Security regarding our
Nation’s border security on February 6, 2019, is unreasonable and
unacceptable. I strongly urge you to reconsider.
Your attempt to use the President’s
recent shutdown as an excuse not to testify before Congress prior to
the impending shutdown is outrageous. As Secretary of Homeland
Security, you should be prepared to testify on border security, the
very issue that caused the recent shutdown, at any time and certainly
prior to the potential February 15 lapse in appropriations.
During the shutdown, you made numerous
public appearances and comments regarding border security. You
should be well prepared to inform the public about the Department of
Homeland Security’s border security needs as well as provide Congress
with accurate information that can inform any pending border security
legislation.
The recent Federal government shutdown
jeopardized homeland security, cost our economy $11 billion, and caused
incalculable harm to the country. The Nation is just days away from
President Trump again shutting down the government. Your failure
to engage Congress only makes averting another shutdown more difficult.
The men and women of the Department of
Homeland Security continue to carry out their duties admirably despite
difficult and uncertain circumstances. I am hopeful you will
follow their lead and agree to testify before the Committee on Homeland
Security on February 6. In your public comments on border
security, you maintained that Congress should “get [its] job
done.” Please know that as Chairman, I intend to ensure the
Committee fulfills its oversight responsibilities on this important
matter.
Sincerely,
BENNIE G. THOMPSON
Chairman
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Media contact:
Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978
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