On the recordAugust 4, 2021
I rise to oppose the Johnson amendment. This measure would force continued payment of government contractors to build an ill-conceived border wall. Most of these funds were never intended for this purpose. More than $10 billion was redirected from the Department of Defense, and these funds were intended for military installations and functions such as schools for military children and National Guard equipment. The Biden administration is conducting a comprehensive review of these contracts, led by the Department of Defense and Homeland Security. DHS has recently announced that they will continue work on certain commonsense projects on the southern border to address life, safety, environmental, and operational considerations. These decisions will be guided by what is best for our national security, not well- connected government contractors profiting off of hard-earned taxpayer dollars. We need to move forward with smart, bipartisan investments that secure both our southern and our northern borders, and we must not look backward at the former administration's boondoggle. I urge my colleagues to vote no on the Johnson amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wisconsin.
