President Trump is threatening to cause a government shutdown later this year if the border wall with Mexico isn’t fully funded. This bill would do so.
Context
How much will the government spend on a border wall?
President Trump wants a $5 billion down payment. The House originally wanted to allocate less than half that amount: $2.2 billion. The Senate wanted less still: $1.6 billion.
And if Democrats take over one or both chamber of Congress in November’s midterms, that amount might be zero.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ5)
What the bill does
The Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act [H.R. 6657] most obviously does what its title implies: funds and completes the border wall with Mexico. In addition, the bill would also:
- Deduct $2,000 in foreign aid to Mexico for every undocumented person caught trying to cross the border, with that saved money going towards the border wall.
- More than quadruples fees highway fees such as tolls on certain routes, from $6 to $25, to fund the border wall. (Seemingly going back on Republican pledges not to raise fees or taxes.)
- Institutes a fee for any money transfer where the recipient is located outside the U.S., intended to target often-undocumented Mexican immigrants who send money to family back home.
What supporters say
Supporters argue the bill is a necessary defense to national security and fulfills a key campaign promise — arguably the single biggest campaign promise — of President Trump.
“Even with a Republican-controlled House and Senate, we have failed to secure the funds for the border wall,” Rep. Biggs said in a press release. “In the meantime, our Border Patrol agents suffer demoralizing losses of resources and personnel.”
“We must keep our promises to the American people,” Biggs continued. “We must fund, start, and complete the border wall without further delay.”
What opponents say
While Democrats are united in their opposition to the border wall, more surprising opposition comes from some congressional Republicans, many of whom object to the wall on either fiscal or security grounds.
“I have concerns about spending un-offset money, which adds to the debt, period,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) told CNN. “I don’t think we’re just going to be able to solve border security with a physical barrier because people can come under, around it and through it.”
“I don’t want to see any spending, additional spending on anything done that is not paid for,” Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) also told CNN when asked about the wall. “We have got a huge fiscal problem right now — $20.355 trillion in debt projected to add $9.7 trillion over the next 10 years… There are so many things that people are talking about spending money on and at the same time lowering the amount of revenue. And it’s a recipe for disaster.”
Odds of passage
The bill has five House cosponsors, all Republicans. It awaits a potential vote in one of several House committees including Appropriations, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Judiciary, or Ways and Means.
