09.12.19

Republicans Reject Amendment Preventing President Trump From Stealing From The Military And Military Families To Pay For Ineffective Border Wall

WASHINGTON (Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019) – Senate Appropriations Committee Republicans Thursday rejected an amendment offered by Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Vice Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) meant to protect funding appropriated for the military and military families from being raided by President Trump to pay for an ineffective, vanity wall along the southern border. 

Leahy said: “The power of the purse is the Constitutional cornerstone of the separation of powers.  But this President has continually disregarded this Congress and subverted our Constitution for a failed campaign promise he said that Mexico would pay for.  I’m disappointed that my colleagues refused to take a stand today for the Constitution, the Congress or their constituents.”  

This year alone, President Trump and his administration raided $2.5 billion from the Department of Defense and $3.6 billion from military construction funds to pay for the construction of his wall.  Stretching transfer authorities to divert $6.1 billion for purposes not appropriated by Congress should be concerning to every member of the Committee, Leahy noted.  Diverting those funds away from the military and their families to pay for an ineffective and wasteful border wall that was specifically rejected by Congress should be appalling.

Earlier this week while addressing the Senate, Leahy outlined how President Trump and his administration have abused transfer authorities, allowing them to raid funds to pay for his wall and support his cruel and inhumane immigration policies.

You can find a breakdown of what military construction projects, including schools and day care centers, President Trump deemed less important than his wall HERE.   

You can find Leahy’s full statement HERE.

The amendment is cosponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Coons (D-Del.),  Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (Conn.) and Van Hollen (D-Md.).

Text of the Leahy/Durbin Amendment is available HERE.

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