Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the House voted on a supplemental appropriations bill for the Southwest border.
"I have long said that the status quo isn`t working and bipartisan action is needed to address the immigration problem that our nation is facing. Unfortunately, Republicans in the House have continued to play political games and have not actually fixed the problem. The Ted Cruz and Steve King wing of the Republican Party are more interested in scoring political points than dealing with the children who came to this country alone to escape the violence they were facing back home. The legislation voted on today was not a serious attempt to secure our border and address the real humanitarian crisis that is happening.
"On top of that, nearly two-thirds of this bill is paid for by taking over $400 million away from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Recovery Fund. Iowans are still recovering from the severe storms and flooding that crippled our state earlier this month and to take this funding away will have a direct impact on our communities. Thirty five counties in Iowa have already received a Presidential Disaster Declaration and Governor Branstad has requested this declaration for 22 more."
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