Rep. Calvert Offers Amendment Addressing the Crisis at our Border

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) offered an amendment addressing the crisis at our southern border during the House Appropriations Committee's consideration of the Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. Rep. Calvert's amendment would prohibit the solicitation and deployment of federal government civilian employees to supplement normal operations at the border unless an emergency is declared by the president. Earlier this year, the Biden Administration asked federal employees in all agencies for volunteers to assist with the border crisis. The amendment was defeated on a party-line vote of 24 to 33.

"The crisis at our southern border is obvious to everyone, yet the Biden Administration's actions and rhetoric are inconsistent," said Rep. Calvert. "When you are desperately pleading for all hands on deck to report to the border, it sure sounds like a crisis. If we are going to potentially compromise the important missions of various federal agencies by deploying their personnel to the border, then we should at least be honest with the American people that a national emergency is at hand. The record numbers of illegal immigrants crossing our southern border has overwhelmed border patrol, law enforcement, and Health and Human Services staff. Let's call this crisis what it is and move forward with ensuring that sufficient resources are available to address the dire situation at the border."