Alexander Says President Trump Should Use Funding Approved By Congress To Build Border Wall
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Senator Lamar Alexander on Tuesday reiterated that the president has sufficient funding authority to build the wall he wants on the Southern border without resorting to a “dangerous national emergency precedent.”
“I support the president’s efforts to secure the border, and in December, I voted to give the President $1.375 billion to continue building the border wall and clear authority to transfer up to $4 billion from the defense budget. This is the right way to fund the border wall – by asking the Congress for funding, allowing Congress to consider the request, and working with Congress to achieve a result. Declaring a national emergency to build the border wall is unnecessary, sets a dangerous precedent and is inconsistent with the U.S.
Constitution,” Senator Alexander said.
For fiscal year 2020, President Trump requested $8.6 billion to build the border wall. Congress provided the president with authority to spend up to $5.375 billion on the border wall. The declaration of a national emergency would allow the president to transfer funding that was not provided by Congress from military construction projects and other parts of the federal government.