WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) issued the following statement after voting against the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2019.
“Most Americans want to see government operations run without interruption. I shared my colleagues’ mission to reach a reasonable compromise between the parties that restores stability to Federal operations and establishes our national security at the besieged southern border. However, we were given less than 20 hours to comb through a 1,169-page bill with an additional 800-plus pages of definitions and supporting documentation. There are changes to the language beyond just the border security component. We don’t know what poison pills may exist in this bill. I cannot, in good faith, vote for a bill that I haven’t had time to carefully and prayerfully research.
“Further, the conference agreement fails to provide border agents and law enforcement with the resources that they need to secure our border. Democrats have inserted language that restricts ICE’s ability to enforce our immigration laws, prevents DHS from hiring additional border agents, and creates loopholes that incentivize illegal immigration. This is completely contrary to requests from our border agents and law enforcement professionals.
“However, I fully understand President Trump’s decision to sign this legislation and avert a shutdown. President Trump has both the executive authority and a constitutional obligation as Commander-in-Chief to secure our homeland. I fully support his decision to declare a national emergency. We must have secure borders, and President Trump is doing what’s necessary to restore our sovereignty.”
