01.24.19

Hoeven Statement After Voting for President’s Plan to Strengthen Border Security, Reopen Government

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after voting in favor of a compromise plan, offered by President Donald Trump, to strengthen border security and reopen the government. 

“I voted in favor of common-sense legislation to strengthen border security and reopen the government. This bill provides vital resources to secure the border, including funding for a steel wall, as well as technology and additional border patrol agents, law enforcement officials and immigration court judges. At the same time, it includes compromise provisions, such as funding to address the humanitarian crisis at the border and temporary relief for DACA recipients.

“While this legislation was a good faith effort to negotiate with our colleagues across the aisle, they blocked the bill. We hope they will come to the negotiating table, in fact we should remain here and keep working until we get to a resolution. That solution should include funding for border security, which is vital to our national security, as well as the remaining 25 percent of government.” 

The legislation included priorities of members on both sides of the aisles, including:

  • $5.7 billion for border security to deploy steel slats, fix existing fencing and secure the southern border.
  • Funding to help address humanitarian needs at the southern border, including medical support.
  • Funding for technology, canines and personnel to stop illegal drugs and contraband from entering the country.
  • Resources to hire additional border agents, law enforcement officers and staff, as well as immigration court judges to help reduce the backlog of immigration cases. 
  • Three years of temporary relief for qualified Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and those with temporary protected status (TPS).
  • The creation of in-country asylum centers to process asylum seekers in their home country and reduce the incentive for unaccompanied minors to travel to the southern border.  
  • Disaster assistance to help communities recover from wildfires, hurricanes and earthquakes.
  • The seven remaining appropriations bills for FY 2019, which would fund government through the end of the fiscal year. These bills have been worked on in a bipartisan manner by the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.

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