First appearance on FOX: A new bill would shift unused federal COVID-19 funds to the South as the illegal immigration crisis continues and voters rank it as one of the most important issues heading into the November election. It could be designated for continued construction of the border wall.
Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) on Tuesday introduced amendments to the Democratic-backed border bill, which is expected to come back to the floor later this week.
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John Barrasso introduced an amendment that would allow unused COVID-19 funds to be used to build a wall on the southern border. (Getty Images)
The bill, titled the “Wall Act of 2024,” would create the “Southern Border Wall Construction Fund” and direct the Department of Homeland Security to use originally authorized nonobligated funds for pandemic recovery. (DHS).
“The border wall is working. Before President Biden took office, we were well on our way to a safe and secure southern border. We have laid out a welcome mat for illegal immigrants “into our country,” Barrasso said in a statement.
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“We must hold Democrats accountable for the open border policies that have created the worst border crisis in our nation’s history. If they are serious about securing our borders, they will support policies that actually work and are already funded. “There should be no problem in voting,” he continued.
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Barrasso chairs the Senate Republican Conference. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The border bill backed by Democrats is expected to fail in a test vote this week. Republican senators said the bill was too weak after negotiations by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) refused as such. Some argued that the immigration bill would make the current border crisis even worse. Republicans reaffirmed their support for tougher immigration policies backed by the House of Representatives, known as HR2.
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Immigration is becoming more important to voters. (James Breeden, New York Post/Mega)
Barrasso’s proposal to use unused COVID-19 relief money to build the wall would be an extension of the COVID-19 State and Local Financial Recovery Fund (COVID-19) authorized in President Biden’s much-touted American Rescue Plan (ARP). It comes after Republicans criticized the Treasury Department’s latest guidance on SLFRF.
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A nurse fills a syringe with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. ((AP Photo/Mary Altafer, File))
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In March, the department changed its guidance on unused COVID-19 relief funds, stating that “eligible recipients can use remaining funds for a wide variety of purposes, including affordable housing for very low-income households.” We can provide funding.”
Republicans tried to block the changes last week but were blocked by Democrats in the Senate on a party-line vote.
