On the recordMarch 26, 2019
President Trump continues to push for his useless, medieval wall along the southern border in defiance of Congress, despite a bipartisan vote in the House of Representatives and the Senate to reject this fraudulently invoked emergency declaration which would rob taxpayers' funds from other programs. Congress has asserted its authority, but the President is using every tool he has in his toolbox for his pet project. Let me remind the American people: There is no emergency at the southern border or anywhere else that warrants this wall. The head of the U.S. Northern Command, who is responsible for troops on the border, testified that border crossings do not pose a military threat. The refugees arriving on our border are families: mothers and fathers with their children. They are willingly turning themselves in to request asylum from the violence and harassment from gangs they face in their home countries. No wall no matter how high it is built would change that reality. Madam Speaker, this is nothing more than a naked power grab, and if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle truly stand for limited executive power, I expect them all to vote to override the President's veto today. Madam Speaker, there is no emergency on the southern border.
