Senate moves ahead on bill to fund Homeland Security agency

After ISIS Suspects Arrested in Brooklyn, Congressman Calls for House to Fund DHS

February 26, 2015 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Sen. Chuck Schumer voted to continue funding for the Department of Homeland Security. AP Photo/Molly Riley

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WASHINGTON — The Senate has voted to move forward on a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), days ahead of a threatened partial agency shutdown.

The vote was 98 to 2 as senators of both parties overwhelmingly signaled their support for funding the department without including contentious immigration provisions.

The vote Wednesday was on a procedural motion that will allow the legislation to advance toward final passage.

Timing of the final passage vote was uncertain, but the outcome was assured. The two “no” votes came from Republicans Jeff Sessions of Alabama and James Inhofe of Oklahoma.

After three Brooklyn residents were arrested early Wednesday on charges of providing material support to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, members of the Brooklyn congressional delegation spoke out for the need to keep DHS funded.

“This development is a chilling reminder of why we must fund the Department of Homeland Security immediately,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) said in a statement. “These three terror suspects appear to have been plotting to take the lives of innocent Americans, including New Yorkers. The time for political gamesmanship by House Republicans has come to an end.”

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, who voted to support DHS funding despite disagreement over immigration-related provisions, commented that the arrests of the three Brooklyn men point to the great need to be mindful of terror threats and keep law enforcement agencies funded.

“This foiled ISIS plot sends shivers down the spine of New Yorkers and clearly underscores that we must remain ever-vigilant in the face of terror threats, and that funding our national security must be a top priority of the federal government, at all times,” the senator said.

The next move will be up to the House, where conservatives are pressuring leaders to stand firm against the Senate approach and the outcome is unclear.

-The Associated Press; Charisma L. Troiano, Esq., Brooklyn Daily Eagle contributing