HR0739 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0739 LRB104 21208 ECR 35724 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) have received expanded funding to be able to operate until 2029 without further appropriations due to funding that was provided in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act; and

WHEREAS, In the event of a funding lapse, ICE and CBP employees are considered "excepted workers" who are required to report to work without pay; and

WHEREAS, Our federal government's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) largely remains unfunded due to disagreement on ICE reforms in Congress; and

WHEREAS, The partial shutdown of DHS includes ICE, CBP, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; and

WHEREAS, On Thursday, March 12, 2026, and for the fourth time in as many weeks, Congressional Senate Democrats voted down a $1.2 trillion funding package, H.R. 7147, sent over by the House of Representatives to fully fund DHS before leaving town for the weekend, ensuring the agency remains shuttered past the one-month mark; and

WHEREAS, Congressional Senate Democrats have vowed to block a vote on the government funding bills unless restrictions are placed on ICE and other immigration actions undertaken by the federal government; and

WHEREAS, DHS reports that ICE has removed more than 90,000 individuals who had been criminally charged beyond their immigration crimes, including hundreds of sex offenders, violent offenders, gang members, and child abusers; and

WHEREAS, DHS was crucial in locating over 132,000 unaccompanied children that the Biden administration lost due to that administration's unacceptable open border policies; and

WHEREAS, The TSA, which is a component of DHS, is essential in protecting millions of Americans every year and shielding us from potential terrorist acts; and

WHEREAS, In 2024 alone, the TSA intercepted a total of 6,678 firearms at airport security checkpoints, screened over 904 million passengers, examined 494 million checked bags, and inspected over two billion carry-on item; and

WHEREAS, Due to the Congressional Senate Democrats preventing this funding, millions of travelers have experienced long wait times, and around 10% of the TSA's 50,000 security officers called out of work on Monday, March 18, 2026, with over 300 employees reported quitting altogether; and

WHEREAS, A large-scale government shutdown during periods of international uncertainty could be detrimental to the safety of not just the United States but all countries; and

WHEREAS, During the previous government shutdown, 1.4 million employees were required to work without pay until the government opened back up, reducing consumer spending and damaging the country's fiscal outlook; and

WHEREAS, Continued or additional government shutdowns could further damage the economy and put the health and safety of all Americans at risk; and

WHEREAS, The men and women employed by DHS who protect this country every day deserve a budget so they can continue to do the vital work that they do on behalf of the citizens of this country; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge Congressional Senate Democrats to support the funding measures proposed by Congressional House Republicans in H.R. 7147; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to all Congressional Senate Democrats.