U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) and a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House voted today to disapprove President Trump’s sham national emergency and fundamental constitutional overreach.
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) and a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House voted today to disapprove President Trump’s sham national emergency and fundamental constitutional overreach.
“The President’s declaration goes to the heart of the balance of powers contained in the U.S. Constitution: the ‘power of the purse’ is vested in the Congress under Article 1 of the Constitution and not in the executive branch. While a President can veto appropriations, a President cannot direct federal expenditures pursuant to a manufactured national emergency,” U.S. Rep. Castor stated. “Today’s vote is a vote to uphold our Constitution, and I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to adhere to their solemn oath as well.
“Trump’s declaration also makes our country less safe by taking billions from high-priority military initiatives and America’s military readiness, such as $3.1 million meant for MacDill Air Force Base to ensure flight readiness. It is wrong for Trump – who has boasted of his concern for our military – to steal funds that are supposed to be used to support America’s military service members and I am furious that he continues to pursue this costly and misguided charade,” U.S. Rep. Castor continued.
“Trump, by declaring his unlawful and untruthful national emergency, is ignoring real national concerns,” said U.S. Rep. Castor. “The President should be focused on lowering health care costs, creating jobs through infrastructure improvements, tackling the climate crisis and more.”
The National Emergency Act includes a process by which the Congress can terminate a national emergency through expedited legislative procedures by enacting a joint resolution. Now that the joint resolution has passed the U.S. House, it will go to the U.S. Senate with an expedited timeline. U.S. Senate Majority Leader McConnell cannot – and should not – stand in the way of this joint resolution from coming to the floor of the U.S. Senate for a vote.
