U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, said on May 4 that Senate Republicans have released a bill that would provide nearly $70 billion in new spending for the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection.
The proposed funding comes at a time when Merkley said American families are facing rising gas prices and increasing grocery costs. He argued that the legislation prioritizes law enforcement agencies over middle-class needs.
"Now that Republicans have unveiled their bill gifting ICE and Border Patrol nearly $70 billion to continue propping up Trump’s rogue police and wreaking havoc across American communities, Senate Democrats are prepared to review this bill line by line and vigorously challenge any provision that violates the Byrd Rule," Merkley said.
He also criticized the allocation of funds to agencies he described as "lawless," stating they already possess significant unspent resources. "At a time when gas prices are rising every day due to Trump’s war of choice with Iran and families continue to struggle to buy groceries, Republicans are ignoring the needs of middle-class America and instead funneling money into Trump’s ballroom and throwing billions at two lawless agencies—agencies that are already sitting on over $100 billion in unspent funds," Merkley said.
Merkley added: "Throughout this process, Democrats will continue to show the American people that we are for bringing down costs, making it easier to get ahead, and building an economy where families thrive and billionaires pay their fair share. It is clear that the country has had enough of the Republican ‘families lose, billionaires win’ agenda."
Last month, Merkley released an analysis indicating these two agencies held more than $103 billion in unobligated funding from previous legislation passed last July.
