James Lankford: “I do rise to be able to speak in opposition to this motion to recommit. It would kill the entire bill. I understand that…”

“I do rise to be able to speak in opposition to this motion to recommit. It would kill the entire bill. I understand that is the intent of it, and I can appreciate that. The Senator from Virginia is my friend, and the list that he listed off of faith-based organizations I strongly support, and so does he. This particular section that is being reduced is being reduced about 25 percent of the total amount. So I can speak with great confidence. This is not cutting off all those faith-based entities. What this is doing is adjusting for the dramatic shift that has happened on our southern border. Much of the refugee work that has been done has been assisting refugees moving through Central and South America and Mexico into the United States. A year and a half ago, we had a quarter million people a month that were illegally crossing our border, asking for asylum at our border. Now we have, many days, less than 200 even attempt. The need has dramatically dropped from what it was 18 months ago. This adjusts that account by 25 percent. It does not eliminate faith-based organizations. There are great needs around the world, and I am incredibly grateful to the faith-based organizations that do remarkable work that partner with our government.”