The seven day deadlock that prevented the Congress from approving house funding for Homeland Security was finally over. On Tuesday, the $40 billion budget was finally approved, which means, the agency will not have to continue with their plans of partial shutdown.
The said budget has been voted 257-167, according to NY Times, and is expected to cover Homeland Security until Sept. 30, 2015. .The bill, which was signed by Obama on Wednesday, raised concerns from some uncompromising political groups. They noted that the bill did not prevent the funding, in which, will protect the 4 million illegal immigrants in the United States.
In a statement made by Rep. Matt Salmon, he said, "I believe this is a sad day for America. If we are not going to fight now, when are we ever going to fight?" According to House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Democrats are clearly blocking the bill, however, in their efforts to keep the Homeland Security from shutting down, he believes, the bill should be signed.
The issue of having an option to pass the bill on a shorter term basis, instead of extending it to almost the end of the year, was largely supported but Boehner stood his ground, saying it is not the most practical solution as the country receives active threats through the homeland.
Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thomson expressed his relief over the assurance of clear house funding for the homeland security. He also added, "We should have passed this bill last year and spent recent months trying to address evolving threats posed by radicalized extremists and cyber hackers whose attacks are becoming more and more sophisticated."