Newhouse, GOP appropriations committee members request border wall update

U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) joined several Republican colleagues on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee in seeking an update from Vice President Kamala Harris on the results of the Biden administration’s 60-day pause and review of border wall construction contracts and “to insist that funds appropriated for border security be used immediately to address this crisis.”

“We are alarmed by the staggering number of migrants that have been apprehended while illegally crossing the southwest border during this administration’s first 100 days,” wrote Rep. Newhouse and the lawmakers in an April 29 letter sent to Harris, who is President Joe Biden’s designee to address the flow of migrants at America’s southern border with Mexico.

Among the members who signed the letter were U.S. Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, along with Reps. Ken Calvert (R-CA), Tom Cole (R-OK), Steve Womack (R-AR), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Mark Amodei (R-NV), David Valadao (R-CA), John Moolenaar (R-MI), and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA).

“We are extremely concerned that the president ordered a 60-day pause on border wall construction on his first day in office, one of the many administration policies that are now emboldening cartels to engage in human trafficking, encouraging migrants to undertake an often dangerous journey, and putting our nation’s security at risk,” Rep. Newhouse and the members wrote. 

The lawmakers pointed out that it has been more than a month since the end of the 60-day construction pause and the administration has not provided any details to Congress nor the public on the results of the review and the status of appropriated funds.

“We are concerned that taxpayer funds are being wasted while this pause continues,” they wrote, requesting that Harris provide the committee members with the results of the review, including the metrics being used to determine whether continued construction will occur by border sector, and the status of funds previously appropriated and made available for construction, among other items.

“Border wall construction funds were appropriated by the Congress as a result of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations and should be spent as provided in law,” wrote the lawmakers. “We are in a state of emergency that requires action, not delay in spending the funds Congress has already made available.”