U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) on April 26 joined 11 of his Republican colleagues in proposing legislation that would prohibit the use of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs funds to provide emergency assistance at the southern border of the United States if Title 42, or similar public health authorities, are repealed.
Title 42, implemented in March 2020 by the Trump administration, permits border authorities at the U.S.-Mexico border to turn back migrants to Mexico or their home countries due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Biden administration planned a repeal of Title 42 set for May 23, but on Monday, a federal judge in Louisiana temporarily blocked that repeal of the pandemic immigration restriction.
“The Biden administration’s disastrous decision to end Title 42 should have no impact on the accessibility, timeliness or quality of care and benefits that veterans need and deserve, regardless of this administration’s continued mishandling of the southern border,” Sen. Tillis said. “I am proud to work with my colleagues to introduce this commonsense legislation to ensure our veterans are a priority.”
Sen. Tillis is one of 11 original cosponsors of S. 4082, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-AR). Other original cosponsors include U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT), John Thune (R-SD), Deb Fisher (R-NE), and Joni Ernst (R-IA).
The bill has been referred to the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee for consideration.