Political Quotes

“I believe there is no longer any question that the situation along our southern border has become a full-blown humanitarian and security crisis. I think that is a given. Leader McConnell has firmly established that fact right here on the Senate floor, and charges from the other side of a manufactured crisis have fallen silent. At this juncture, there is little need to recapitulate the case for action. We know what our professionals on the frontlines need in order to get a handle on the situation. The only question is, Will the Congress come together and act or fall prey to partisanship while the crisis escalates further? I am pleased to say, last week, the Appropriations Committee charted a course for strong bipartisan action. By a vote of 30 to 1, the committee approved an emergency appropriations bill to address the crisis at the border--30 to 1. Such an overwhelming bipartisan vote would not have been possible without the cooperation of my colleague and good friend, Vice Chairman Leahy. I thank Senator Leahy for working with us to find a path forward. This bipartisan committee product, which it is and which I will soon offer as a substitute amendment to the House bill, provides $4.59 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to address the humanitarian and security crisis at the border. It does not contain everything that Senator Leahy wanted, and it does not contain everything that I wanted.…”