At the start of the 110th Congress in 2007, Congressman Serrano became Vice Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. Created in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 2001, the Department of Homeland Security is made up of 22 agencies within the Federal Government that have an important job in securing the nation. As Vice Chairman of the subcommittee, Congressman Serrano plays an integral role in ensuring that each of these agencies has the funding necessary to carry out their critical responsibilities.
As a representative of New York City, which is perhaps the number one target for terrorists, Congressman Serrano realizes the importance of providing oversight that makes certain the department of Homeland Security is competent and capable of protecting citizens from potential acts of terrorism. However, recognizing the equal importance of ensuring that the rights and liberties of U.S. citizens are not trampled upon in the process, Congressman Serrano often uses his position on the subcommittee to remind officials that it is never prudent to exchange liberty for security.
Each year as the subcommittee holds hearings to begin the process of crafting a bill, Congressman Serrano is sure to press officials on their records on granting suspects due process and displaying a consistency across all ethnicities and nationalities in applying the law to terrorists or terrorist suspects.
In the 109th and 110th Congresses Congressman Serrano fought for New York to receive higher Homeland Security grant allocations and pushed for these allocations to be made on the basis of risk, arguing that distribution of funds of this importance should never be influenced by politics.
Congressman Serrano has also consistently fought for increased funding for the nation’s first responders. Despite the critical role they played in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 2001, President Bush proposed to cut their funding during multiple years of his administration. Fortunately, the Congressman, along with Members of the Subcommittee were successful in restoring funding to these important workers.
Perhaps Congressman Serrano’s most important contribution in the area homeland Security oversight has been his vigilant defense of Immigrant rights. With ICE falling under the umbrella of Homeland Security there are some government officials who believe they have the authority to harass immigrants. Congressman Serrano has repudiated this idea and fought to ensure that all immigrants receive fair treatment.
Furthermore, Congressman Serrano vehemently opposed the building of a wall along the southern border, arguing that technology has afforded us more efficient ways of securing the border, while a wall only serves to send a negative message.
In 2007 he was successful in securing language in the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill instructing officials to ensure humane treatment of immigrants housed in detention facilities.
Congressman Serrano’s commitment to ensuring that the federal government provides security to the nation without abducting the rights of citizens or mistreating immigrants will continue to shape his agenda in the area of Homeland Security.
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