U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement after President Trump declared a national emergency – an unwarranted and unconstitutional act:
“President Trump’s personal political predicament does not qualify as a national emergency. He manufactured a national emergency to unlawfully divert funds to his pet project instead of focusing on what matters to American families like lowering health care costs, creating jobs through infrastructure and tackling the climate crisis.
“President Trump could not convince Mexico to build his wall as he promised, so he turned to the American taxpayers to pay billions of dollars for it and then shut down the government when he did not get his way. A bipartisan majority in Congress also rejected funding for the ineffective and wasteful border wall.
“As the Representative for MacDill Air Force Base and the brave men and women who serve there, I am furious that President Trump is diverting over $3.6 billion in military construction resources – resources that should be used to enhance our military readiness, improve base housing and truly safeguard our national security. It is wrong for President Trump to steal funds that are used to support America’s military service members.”
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has shared state-by-state information identifying projects and funds that could be impacted by the President’s emergency declaration, including the $3,100,000 appropriated for the KC135 Beddown Add Flight Simulator Training at MacDill Air Force Base, possibly affecting our nation’s flight readiness.
