Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Vice Chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H. J. Res. 46, a resolution opposing the national emergency declared by the President on a vote 245 to 182. The resolution will now be sent to the Senate where it is expected to receive expedited consideration.
“The President declared an emergency over a crisis that does not exist. Border crossings are down to one-fifth of what they were in 2000, and apprehensions are at their lowest level in more than four decades.
“Instead of protecting our national security, the President’s declaration makes America less safe by stealing billions from high-priority military construction projects that ensure our troops have the essential training, readiness and quality of life necessary to keep the American people safe, which directly undermines America’s national security.
“The declaration clearly violates the Congress’s exclusive power of the purse under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, and, if unchecked, would fundamentally alter the balance of powers established by the Founding Fathers in that document –‘the Supreme Law of the land.’
“The resolution rejecting the emergency declaration transcends partisan politics and partisanship, and is really about patriotism. A bipartisan group of nearly 60 national security officials including former secretaries of state, defense secretaries, CIA directors, and ambassadors to the UN issued a statement declaring that ‘there is no factual basis’ justifying the President’s emergency declaration.
“In this vote, the House voted to honor and protect the U.S. Constitution,” said Bishop.
