Two Republican Senators Move To Stop Trump From Diverting Funds For The Border Wall In The Future
Republican Senators Mike Lee and Mitt Romney have both co-sponsored a bill that will prevent President Trump in the future to divert federal funds to the construction of the border wall.
Senator Mike Lee said, “Congress has been ceding far too much power to the executive branch for decades and it is far past time for Congress to restore the proper balance of power between the three branches,” Lee said in a statement.”
Lee told KSL on September 4th that his proposed bill “Article On Act” would cease imbalances by the National Emergencies Act. KSL (Local Utah News affiliate) reports:
The bill, co-sponsored by Romney, would automatically end all future emergency declarations made under the National Emergencies Act after 30 days unless Congress votes to extend them. Congress now can cancel an emergency declaration only by passing a resolution that withstands a presidential veto.
Romney said he is “disappointed” that despite the concerns he and Lee raised, the projects will be “delayed.”
“Funding the border wall is an important priority, and the executive branch should use the appropriate channels in Congress, rather than divert already appropriated funding away from military construction projects and therefore undermining military readiness,” he said in a statement.
On the 4th of September Romney said, “Today, the Administration announced that funding for two projects crucial to military readiness at Utah’s HAFB will be diverted as a result of the February 2019 emergency declaration. The executive branch should use the appropriate channels, not divert already appropriated funding,” Mitt Romney tweeted.
“Congress will have an opportunity to restore this funding in the next budget cycle. I will work with Sen. Mike Lee and the other members of our delegation to fight for funding for these projects, which are essential to Utah’s service members and our national security strategy,” he added.
Congress will have an opportunity to restore this funding in the next budget cycle. I will work with @SenMikeLee and the other members of our delegation to fight for funding for these projects, which are essential to Utah’s service members and our national security strategy.
— Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) September 4, 2019
President Trump declared a national emergency in February citing cartel violence and human trafficking. However, Obama did it 13 times and Senate Republicans never proposed such legislation until Trump was in office.
Pentagon officials announced on September 3rd that the Department of Defense would redirect $3.6 billion out of $127 billion to build 175 miles of the border wall.
