WASHINGTON – After the U.S. House of Representatives voted 245–182 to pass a resolution to terminate President Trump’s emergency declaration on the southern border, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, called on Senate Republicans to join Senate Democrats in voting for the resolution. Under the National Emergencies Act, the U.S. Senate is required to bring it up for a vote in the coming weeks. Under his emergency declaration, President Trump plans to divert money intended for military construction projects to build a wall along the southern border. Murphy has argued that the emergency declaration is unconstitutional. 

“President Trump is trying to blow up our constitutional system of checks and balances. Senate Republicans for years have complained about supposed executive overreach. Now they have a chance to put their votes where their mouth is,” said Murphy. “The emergency declaration is unconstitutional. It’s a huge waste of taxpayer money. And it harms our national security and the readiness of our men and women serving in uniform by halting much needed military construction projects. President Trump couldn’t get the wall built when Republicans controlled Congress, and he sure as hell shouldn’t be able to violate the Constitution simply to cater to his base and fulfill a campaign promise.”

 

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