[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 287 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 287
Condemning the President's threat to shut down the United States-Mexico
border to the detriment of the United States economy.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 3, 2019
Mr. Cuellar (for himself, Ms. Escobar, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Vela,
and Ms. Jackson Lee) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the
Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Ways and Means, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Condemning the President's threat to shut down the United States-Mexico
border to the detriment of the United States economy.
Whereas President Trump is threatening to shut down the United States-Mexico
border if Mexico does not stop the flow of Central American children and
families to the United States;
Whereas the sudden closure of the United States-Mexico border would have grave
consequences for the American economy, American jobs, and daily lives of
American families, both in border communities and across every State in
the Union;
Whereas the unexpected supply chain disruption caused by suddenly closing the
United States-Mexico border could result in work stoppages at American
auto and manufacturing plants, risking the furlough of American workers
and the shutdown of production lines;
Whereas the disruption caused by suddenly closing the United States-Mexico
border could result in severe shortages of many fruits, vegetables, and
other fresh food, leading to collapsing food supplies, soaring food
prices, and bare shelves in groceries nationwide;
Whereas suddenly closing the United States-Mexico border could have further
consequences on the American farm economy, hurting family farms,
growers, pork producers, dairy producers, and more, leading to rotting
produce and other disruptions felt later in the season;
Whereas spending by Mexican tourists in the United States totaled $20.3 billion
in 2016 alone;
Whereas the President's counterproductive policies have consistently worsened
the situation at the United States-Mexico border;
Whereas, since fiscal year 2016, Congress has invested more than $2.6 billion to
support implementation of the United States Strategy for Engagement in
Central America aimed at strengthening communities in the region and
preventing children and families from making the dangerous trek from El
Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to the United States-Mexico border;
Whereas suspending United States assistance to Central America will worsen
conditions in Central America and promote increased migration to the
United States;
Whereas according to former United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Commander
Admiral James Stavridis, ``The best thing we could do to reduce the flow
of refugees from Central America is to help them improve conditions
there. Suddenly stopping all foreign aid there will only increase the
driving forces creating the caravans over time, which will be even more
costly to deal with on our border. It is like stopping your preventative
medications, then wondering why you need surgery a year later.'';
Whereas only one day after the Secretary of Homeland Security entered into a
promising multilateral compact with Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador
to address migration flows, the President announced plans to terminate
United States foreign assistance to those countries;
Whereas the President blocking the use of funds appropriated by Congress for
bipartisan initiatives that address the root causes of child and family
migration from Central America will exacerbate the situation at the
border;
Whereas instead of working to reduce humanitarian suffering at the United
States-Mexico border, the President has intentionally worsened
conditions for asylum-seeking individuals who have a right to due
process and humane treatment when arriving at the border;
Whereas Congress appropriated $192,700,000 above the President's budget request
for fiscal year 2019 for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for
humanitarian relief at the southern border, including $128,000,000 for
contract medical professionals, $40,200,000 for food, infant formula and
diapers, and $24,500,000 for transportation between CBP facilities;
Whereas Congress appropriated funding for 484 immigration judge teams in fiscal
year 2018, of which only 395 were on-board as of September 30, 2018, and
provided funding for 534 immigration judge teams in fiscal year 2019;
and
Whereas the President's conduct in the name of border security has consistently
worsened the humanitarian needs at the United States-Mexico border and
threatened further chaos in the jobs, economy, and daily lives of
American families across the country: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) opposes the President's reckless threatened closure of
the United States-Mexico border, which would severely
jeopardize the Nation's economic, national, and homeland
security interests;
(2) opposes the President's action blocking the funds
appropriated by Congress to address the root causes of
migration at their source, thereby needlessly fueling the
situation at the United States-Mexico border; and
(3) affirms asylum-seeking individuals have a right to due
process and humane treatment when arriving at the United
States-Mexico border, consistent with our most treasured
American values as a Nation that has been a beacon and a refuge
to the world.
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