Madam President, we are at a crucial point in our democracy, with a big decision to be made. Tomorrow, we can correct this unconstitutional violation by the President of the United States of taking military money, military readiness money, national security money, and moving it over for a border wall. Canceling these 127 projects is not just a one-off. Let's remember that. We all know the President fully intends to keep at it. It has already been reported that if the President doesn't get the $5 billion he has requested for his wall in 2020, the next budget year, the administration plans to take another $3.6 billion from the Pentagon's construction budget. This President will not stop raiding funds we have appropriated, unless we stop him and terminate his sham emergency declaration. The careful planning for the 127 canceled projects contrasts sharply with the administration's haphazard rush to build the President's wall. The President wants 500 miles of wall before the 2020 election. To do so, the administration may need to skirt the Federal procurement process and aggressively take lands away from private landowners through eminent domain. Don't worry, says the President to his staff: I will pardon you if you break any laws. This is no way to run a government, and, certainly, no way to spend taxpayer dollars. Don't get me wrong. I support strong border security. We need well- trained officers, mobile assets, surveillance technology, and adequate resources.…
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