Congressman Morgan McGarvey Attempts to Divert $70 Billion ICE Budget Bill to Homeless Veterans

Congressman Morgan McGarvey Attempts to Divert $70 Billion ICE Budget Bill to Homeless Veterans

"There's so much good we could do with this money. Just about anything would be better than giving it to ICE."

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 9, 2026) - Today, the House will vote on a Senate-passed government funding package with an additional $70 billion for ICE and CBP, totaling $240 billion under the Trump administration.

Last night, Rep. McGarvey proposed diverting the funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans homelessness assistance programs. Today, Congressman Morgan McGarvey, railed against the bill on the House floor before casting his nay vote.

DOWNLOAD LANDSCAPE VIDEO HERE

TRANSCRIPT:

Mr. Speaker

We gotta stop saying this about $70 billion for ICE. This is about $240 billion for ICE. Republicans gave ICE $170 billion last July, and in less than one year they want to give them $70 billion more. That's more for ICE this year than Russia spent on its military - and they're currently at war.

$240 billion for honest to god stormtroopers - masked, armed agents kidnapping people off the street, murdering U.S. citizens, separating families, and detaining children.

We shouldn't give them another dollar. We cannot give them another $70 billion. But if you're willing to spend it, imagine the good we could do with that kind of money.

We could make people's lives better. A free school breakfast and lunch for every kid in America.

Free child care for every American family with a kid under five.

We could bring back the healthcare tax credits that Republicans killed because "too expensive" for three more years.

Since feeding kids and fixing health care aren't your thing, maybe we can agree on our veterans.

You guys say you care about our veterans. Let's do something about it.

For $70 billion, we could end veteran homelessness forever, probably seven times over. In fact, I offered an amendment to this bill that does just that. Actually, with $70 billion, we could end homelessness in America.

And that's just one example. There's so much good we could do with this money. Just about anything would be better than giving it to ICE.

Vote no, I yield back.

###

Congressman Morgan McGarvey represents Kentucky's Third Congressional District, including Louisville and Jefferson County. He serves on the House Veterans Affairs, Small Business, and Budget Committees.