National Security

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement in response to recent comments by President Trump about voting by mail during the COVID-19 pandemic: “The president should be embarrassed by his recent comments about voting by mail. Forcing people to go to a polling location during a public health crisis is shameful. People should never have to… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman DelBene and Congresswoman Jayapal met with officials from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to discuss the multiple cases of Iranian Americans being detained and questioned at length while entering the US from Canada at the Blaine Peace Arch crossing in January and the recently leaked CBP memo directing CBP agents to discriminate specifically against individuals of… Read more »

Today, members of Washington’s Democratic delegation in the House of Representatives issued a joint statement after an internal memo from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shows Iranian-Americans and others were deliberately targeted for detainment at the Blaine Peace Arch crossing in early January. The Washington Democratic delegation includes Representatives Suzan DelBene, Rick… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) made the following statement after an internal memo from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shows Iranian-Americans and others were deliberately targeted for detainment at the Blaine Peace Arch crossing in early January. “I am deeply alarmed that CBP was dishonest regarding the detainment of Americans of Iranian, Lebanese, and… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) joined House Democrats in passing a War Powers Resolution that directs the Administration to halt the use of U.S. Armed Forces against Iran without authorization from Congress. This vote was taken in response to the president’s military airstrikes against high-level Iranian officials without any Congressional consultation.  “Today’s vote… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-1) led a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “to obtain more information regarding the holding of Iranian Americans in secondary inspection upon entering the United States in Blaine, Washington” over the weekend. The letter is co-led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-7), and Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA). The letter… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene issued the following statement shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Trump’s travel ban directed at citizens of predominately Muslim nations. “I am deeply disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision. As Justice Sotomayor said in her dissent, President Trump’s ‘policy now masquerades behind a façade of national security concerns,’ when… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) made the following statement shortly after President Trump announced the United States’ withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement with Iran. “President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran deal is a reckless move that undermines our credibility on the world stage, and worse, puts our national security at… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) opposed S. 139, a bill that extends the authority of government agencies to conduct warrantless searches of Americans’ private communications under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) without any reforms. “Bulk collection of American communications records is a gross violation of our civil liberties and… Read more »

Republican Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, of Vancouver, joined Washington’s six Democratic U.S. House representatives on Thursday in opposition to renewal of the federal government’s warrantless surveillance program. Herrera Beutler was one of 45 Republicans who voted against the bill, which reauthorized U.S. spy agencies to conduct surveillance on foreign targets abroad, but also… Read more »