Boozman Convenes First Hearing as Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chair

ARRA News Service: Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) led an examination of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Fiscal Year 2018 budget request in an effort to ensure Americans are safe from threats during his first hearing as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.

The hearing featured testimony from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly about the department’s funding requests for border security, air travel safety and cybersecurity, among other needs.

“The Department of Homeland Security plays a pivotal role in keeping Americans safe by working to combat terrorism; manage our air, land and sea borders; administer our immigration laws; secure critical cyber-assets; and prepare for and respond to disasters. The tragic events in Manchester, England earlier this week remind us why we must focus on the serious challenge of securing our homeland,” Boozman said in his opening remarks.

Boozman continued his opening statement noting the “smart choices” made by DHS in its budget request including its increased funding for both manpower and infrastructure to continue to reduce illegal border crossings, support for the United States Coast Guard and its prioritized funding for cybersecurity needs.

He applauded the Secretary’s focus on the Department’s workforce, calling it DHS’s “most valuable resource” and noted “that taking care of the people that work to keep us safe each day is a top priority.”

“While this budget proposal makes some smart choices, there are also parts of it that are unworkable. Whether we’re talking about a hard-working Arkansas family or one of the largest departments in the federal government, when it comes time to develop a budget, tough choices have to be made. We ask for your cooperation as we consult with you and your staff to make the necessary adjustments to allow this budget to work despite these significant challenges,” Boozman told Secretary Kelly.

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