Freshman Rep. Gwen Graham (D-Fla.) says she will donate a portion of congressional salary to a veterans charity, if Congress can’t agree on a measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
{mosads}”With threats ranging from ISIL, to cyber security, to safety at our borders, it’s unacceptable for Congress to shut down the Department of Homeland Security,” Graham said in a statement released by her office.
“There are enough moderate Democrats and Republicans ready to pass a clean Department of Homeland Security funding bill. It’s time for leadership in both parties to set politics aside and fund the Department of Homeland Security.”
Graham would donate the salary that she earns during a shutdown to the Warrior Beach Retreat, a Florida group that helps wounded veterans and their families. She also called on all members to follow suit if the agency isn’t funded by Friday.
Graham’s comments come as the Senate readies to vote on a measure that would eliminate funding for the president’s recent executive actions on immigration. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said he hopes that will break the logjam in the Senate. Democrats have filibustered Homeland Security funding bills that Republicans used as vehicles to defund those orders.
The freshman lawmaker, who won a tight race to replace then-Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.), is expected to have one of the toughest reelection bids in 2016. The National Republican Congressional Committee has her name on its “2016 Donkeys List” of top targets, while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee put her on its “Frontline” program, which protects vulnerable lawmakers.
She’s occasionally bucked her party during her short tenure and did not vote for Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to lead House Democrats in the new Congress.