Dear Friends,
There are three questions I researched before deciding how to vote on the resolution to disapprove the president’s national emergency declaration on our southwest border:
1. Does the law (created by Congress) give the president authority to declare such an emergency?
2. What are the consequences of reprogramming the funds that the president has identified?
3. Is this the best strategy to solve the crisis on our southwest border?
The president does have the statutory authority based on a 1976 law passed by Congress. This law authorizes the president to reprogram military construction funds that have been approved by Congress but not obligated for specific projects. President Trump is not setting a precedent. Since 1979, presidents have declared national emergencies 31 times. Section 2808 of the National Emergencies Act specifically gives the president authority to reprogram these funds in the defense of our nation. After visiting the southwest border four times, I can confirm that there is a security crisis. As a check on this power, the National Emergencies Act gives Congress the ability to approve or disapprove an emergency declaration, which is what the House and Senate is currently voting on.
$1.375 billion has already been included for new border barrier construction in FY2019 from the Department of Homeland Security spending bill. $600 million is being reprogrammed from the Treasury Forfeiture Fund, an account funded by money seized by the US government. $2.5 billion is being reprogrammed through Title 10, Section 284; this is counter-drug activities within the Department of Defense (Reprogramming funds from these accounts does not require a National Emergency Declaration). The second military account is the Title 10, Section 2808, which is military construction. That's roughly $3.6 billion (Reprogramming this money does require a National Emergency Declaration). Based on my research, I am satisfied that our military and law enforcement priorities would not be eliminated or delayed because of reprogramming these funds through the emergency declaration.
Without declaring a national emergency, the president could add approximately $3.1 billion to the $1.375 billion for new border barrier construction that has already been included from the bipartisan DHS spending bill. This would total $4.475 billion or about 80% of what DHS recommended for new border barrier construction. I believe that using these funds first would be a better initial step rather than using a national emergency declaration.
Ultimately, based on the answers to these questions, I voted no on Speaker Pelosi's resolution to block the president's emergency declaration. While I would prefer Congress appropriate these funds to combat the crisis on our southwest border, the fact is that the president does have the authority to reprogram these funds and their use would not undermine the priorities of our military and law enforcement.
Sincerely,
Representative French Hill
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fighting for the release of american in syria
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I’m continuing to work with the Trump Administration to bring home Majd Kamalmaz, a former Arkansas resident, who has been detained in Syria for the past two years. This week, I met with the Kamalmaz family in Washington D.C., including Majd’s son, Khalid, who was my guest for the State of the Union address.
The president has a very strong track record of safely returning home Americans detained abroad, and we are hopeful that Majd will soon be back home in the United States with his family.
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March is National Reading month
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March kicks off with the birthday of Dr. Seuss, who taught so many of us not only how to read, but how much fun and rewarding it could be. In honor of national reading month, I strongly encourage parents and grandparents to take some time to read each night with your child or grandchild. If your child is young, you can even start with some Dr. Seuss classics.
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Thank you for taking time to keep up with the work I'm doing on your behalf. If I can be of any assistance to you or your family, please reach out to my office at (501) 324-5941 or Hill.House.Gov.
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