00:00Thank you. The chair now recognizes the gentlelady from New Jersey, Ms. Poe.
00:04Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madam Secretary, good afternoon.
00:09I wish we could have heard from you before ramming through a $70 billion reconciliation bill.
00:16But nevertheless, I'm really happy and glad that we have a chance to speak with you today.
00:21Like many of my colleagues, I am deeply concerned that your department is blatantly ignoring our laws.
00:27The law is very, very clear.
00:31Members of Congress can show up unannounced to facilities, and ICE must accommodate a tour of their detention centers.
00:43The fact that your spokesperson suggested arresting members of Congress who were given a tour of the facility is disturbing and certainly dangerous.
00:54We will not accept threats or intimidation by anyone at your department or across the administration for exercising our constitutional oversight authority.
01:09Now, let me just refer now to my questions.
01:13The Trump administration's funding freeze has created chaos and unpredictability for state and local governments to respond to threats.
01:24Reportedly, $100 billion has been canceled or is being unlawfully withheld.
01:31You stated today that we are a nation of laws, yet you are actually violating the law.
01:42In our recent markup, I offered an amendment to prohibit DHS from delaying or withholding FEMA grant funding.
01:51Unfortunately, it was rejected by my GOP colleagues.
01:54As my district ramps up for the World Cup, our first responders and municipalities require resources today.
02:04By delaying and withholding grants like the Homeland Security Grant Program, you do not just create uncertainty.
02:13You undermine the ability of state and local governments to begin security planning for one of the world's largest boarding events.
02:20Right now, you are a month behind issuing guidance on this critical funding.
02:27Similarly, guidance has not been issued for the nonprofit grant security program, which protects synagogues, churches, and mosques from threats.
02:42These delays harm our national security.
02:45Madam Secretary, when does your department plan for the Homeland Security Grant Program and the nonprofit security grant program funding to be made available?
02:58Congresswoman, every grant under the Department of Homeland Security is being evaluated to make sure that it's following statute as required by Congress as to how it should be allocated and obligated to local states and communities.
03:11So, as many of those grants were paused and evaluated, you've seen that they've been continued and put out.
03:17But if they were misappropriated into things that were off of the guidance of how the grant should be utilized, then it was changed.
03:26But these grants that have been obligated and should go forward have been continued.
03:31Let me just real quickly, because I know our time is very, it's narrowing to a close.
03:36As you know, New Jersey is one of 11 American citizens that will, cities, I'm sorry, that will host the FIFA World Cup matches next year.
03:47The final match will be held in my district in New Jersey.
03:50There will be tens of thousands of spectators at the final match and hundreds of thousands more attending FanFest throughout the northern New Jersey area.
04:00The World Cup is a time of international competition and celebration, but I worry about the chilling effect of the Trump administration's anti-immigrant rhetoric and America's ability to serve as a welcoming host.
04:14To add, the Trump administration is looking to reinstate and expand a travel ban targeting 43 countries for restrictions on entering the United States.
04:25Can you please tell us how you will ensure that fans traveling legally to the United States are not targeted for immigration raids?
04:38We are already working as an administration with the teams from all the countries that will come and be competing and their fans as well to process their paperwork and to help facilitate their travel to the United States.
04:51And as you've seen, the president has formulated a task force that will focus on holding this unprecedented event and doing it in the safest manner possible while adding hospitality to it and having people enjoy the matches and enjoy interacting with each other.
05:09And as you know, over 10 million people will attend the matches over that month-long period of time.
05:14Over 22 million people will interact through activities.
05:18You mentioned FanFest, and that is something that the Department of Homeland Security is tasked with.
05:24It's our responsibility to partner with local communities and cities that are the hosts, and we'll be working with your city as well to ensure that we're prepared for it, that we have the needs met, and that we are doing all that we can to secure each location.
05:38Thank you. I look forward to working with you in that regard. Thank you very much.
