HYDE-SMITH STATEMENT ON EMERGENCY BORDER SUPPLEMENTAL PACKAGE
Senate Approves Measure to Fund President’s Border Crisis Request
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today issued the following statement regarding Senate passage of emergency supplemental funding sought by President Trump to address the ongoing crisis on the southern border:
“U.S. border security, law enforcement, and health agencies have been overwhelmed by the waves of people trying to enter our country either legitimately or illegally. Since October 1, more than 675,000 migrants have arrived at the southern border, which is comparable to the population of some major American cities. The crisis has only increased since President Trump requested emergency funding from Congress almost two months ago.
“I am troubled by the situation on our border and with claims it is a manufactured crisis. It is unfortunate that this very real crisis on our border requires emergency spending. But it is needed if federal agents are expected to do their jobs to secure and control the border.”
The Senate package passed on an 84 to 8 vote. The Senate Appropriations Committee, on which Hyde-Smith serves, last week approved the emergency funding bill, 31-0, to meet the security and humanitarian assistance needs on the border.
The Senate measure includes funding for:
• Department of Defense to support response activities on the border;
• Department of Justice to process immigration cases and detain dangerous individuals;
• Department of Homeland Security to provide basic necessities (food, shelter, and medical care) to detained adult migrants; and
• Department of Health and Human Services to care for unaccompanied children.
Prior to the final vote today, Hyde-Smith voted against the House-passed version of the bill, which President Trump had said he would veto.
The Senate- and House-passed measures must now be reconciled before a final bill can be presented to the President.
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