Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Joins Colleagues to Stop the President From Using Disaster Relief Funds Appropriated for Hurricane Harvey Relief to be used to build a Border Wall
For Immediate Release Contact: Robin Chand
January 15, 2019 (202) 225–3816
Press Statement
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Joins Colleagues to Stop the President From Using Disaster Relief Funds Appropriated for Hurricane Harvey Relief to be used to build a Border Wall
Jackson Lee: "While the letter restates the need for tactical infrastructure, the term "tactical infrastructure" does not mean support for a border wall. This is for any number of reasons, not the least of which is that many believe that a border wall is not effective, and the wall is not supported by the American people. While I believe the government shutdown is a major policy misjudgment, and that the president should not shut down the government over his inability to secure funding from the Congress for a border wall he promised would be paid for by Mexico, the redirection of already-appropriated funds directed for disaster relief following Hurricane Harvey is not the means by which to effectuate that end."
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, and senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget issued this statement after she joined her colleagues from the Texas delegation in a bipartisan letter to the President asking him not to redirect funds appropriated for Hurricane Harvey relief towards the construction of a border wall:
"Today, I joined members of the Texas congressional delegation and the Governor of Texas in sending a letter to the President related to the shutdown. Specifically, the letter made a clear request: not to divert the critical aid appropriated by the Congress to help Texans recover following Hurricane Harvey.
"When Hurricane Harvey made landfall, 21 trillion gallons of rain fell on the affected areas. Afterwards, Houstonians and all Texas began the work to rebuild and reclaim their lives. This effort was aided in substantial part by the those who represent Texas in the United States Congress who sprung to action to ensure businesses reopen, families return home, and communities remain whole. Together, working in a bicameral, bipartisan manner, led in large part by my advocacy, the Texas delegation secured over $100 billion to help the fourth largest city and the second most-populous state recover.
"Against this backdrop, the signatories on today's letter reemphasized our shared goals and our shared commitment to our constituents in Texas to ensure that the funds allocated for Harvey relief are committed to that cause, and not in service to a campaign promise to build a border wall on our southern border.
"To be clear, while I am a signatory to this letter, and while the letter restates the need for tactical infrastructure, the term "tactical infrastructure" does not mean support for a border wall. This is for any number of reasons, not the least of which is that many believe that a border wall is not effective, and the wall is not supported by the American people. While I believe the government shutdown is a major policy misjudgment, and that the president should not shut down the government over his inability to secure funding from the Congress for a border wall he promised would be paid for by Mexico, the redirection of already-appropriated funds directed for disaster relief following hurricane Harvey is not the means by which to effectuate that end.
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Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat representing the 18th Congressional District of Texas, is a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security and the Budget. She is a Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.