Jayapal Statement on Reconciliation Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement on today's reconciliation vote, which passed 214-212.

"Republicans made clear today that they - along with Donald Trump - simply do not care about the American people's financial situation. Last year, even as Republicans slashed healthcare for tens of millions of Americans, they gave $170 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to act with impunity and cruelty and terrorize people across our country. Today, even as $100 billion of that remains, Republicans voted to add another $70 billion slush fund to the lawless and unaccountable agencies of ICE and CBP with zero reforms. Meanwhile, gas prices have skyrocketed, and housing, healthcare, and childcare remain unaffordable. This is an insult to every American who is struggling to make ends meet.

"As the Ranking Member on the Immigration Subcommittee, I have been relentlessly demanding an end to the lawlessness and cruelty of ICE and CBP and holding my own hearings to demand accountability. But Republicans have refused to make any reforms to rein in these agencies that have killed U.S. citizens, including Renee Good and Alex Pretti; kidnapped and disappeared tens of thousands of immigrants of all immigration statuses from our communities; and incarcerated children and families with cruelty and no due process.

"We should be funding healthcare, groceries, rent, and electricity for the American people instead of sending more money to ICE and CBP. It's time to stop placating a grifting president who recently tried to ink a deal with the IRS to give himself and his insurrectionist buddies a $1.8 billion slush fund. The American people made it crystal clear that they would not accept this, and thanks only to public pressure, the slush fund had to be withdrawn, but the piece of that deal still stands that gives Trump a get-out-of-jail-free card for any IRS violations.

"All of this corruption from this White House is staggering, and Republicans in Congress are letting them get away with it at every turn. The American people are sick and tired of it."

Issues: Immigration