Rep. Cisneros Statement On Bipartisan And Bicameral Spending Bill

Statement

Today, Congressman Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) voted in support of the bipartisan and bicameral spending agreement to keep the government open for the rest of the fiscal year. The compromise deal invests in several key legislative priorities, rejects the President's ineffective border security and border wall proposals, and provides critical humanitarian relief to the border, including enhanced medical support, transportation, food, clothing, and funding for family management and additional immigration judges.

"Today I supported the bipartisan spending agreement that would keep the government open until the end of the fiscal year and prevent another partisan and political shutdown led by the President. Ensuring our government employees and their families are taken care of and our government remains open is of utmost importance for the safety and well-being of all Americans," said Cisneros.

"This agreement does not go far enough to hold this administration accountable for its treatment of immigrants, however, it does provide much needed humanitarian relief and puts in place critical checks that will begin to put an end to the cruel and inhumane treatment of people at our border. To be clear, I am more committed than ever to pushing forward humane immigration reform that keeps families together, provides pathways to citizenship, protects TPS holders, and accepts those fleeing violence and persecution.

"I am also deeply troubled that the President is weighing whether to declare a national emergency to build a wall at the border for a crisis he manufactured, unconstitutionally overriding a bipartisan, bicameral agreement. Simply put, there is no emergency. His decision could take away disaster-relief aid from families looking to rebuild, endanger both military construction projects and our military readiness, and prevent infrastructure projects from moving forward in California. It would also be a clear violation of law, undermine separation of powers, and create a dangerous new precedent.

"I am proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that were able come to an agreement on this bill, but at the end of the day, I will continue to hold the President accountable. The real crisis at the border is the remaining families and children who are still separated and the thousands of immigrant families that deserve justice and certainty. I will act to hold this President accountable and uphold the priorities and values important to the residents of the 39th district."

Rep. Cisneros has been an advocate for undocumented immigrants, DREAMers, and TPS holders in Congress and personally through his charitable foundation. He is a cosponsor of the Keep Families Together Act, which would prohibit child separation, limit criminal prosecutions for asylum seekers, increase child welfare training, establish public policy preference for family reunification, and establish procedures for separated families. He also signed a letter requesting HASC Chairman Adam Smith to work to prevent the military from being used to further the President's "immoral and wasteful wall" and is a cosponsor of H.R. 1137, which would prevent the Administration from diverting disaster-recovery funds from Army Corps civil works projects to build a border wall.

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