WASHINGTON— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), released the following statement after voting today in support of the End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act, legislation providing $5.7 billion for physical border barriers. The bill was a compromise proposed by President Trump in good faith, and it included immigration provisions Democrats have supported in the past, as well as disaster recovery resources.
“I voted for President Trump’s proposal to re-open government, put 800,000 federal employees back to work, and secure our border,” said Dr. Cassidy. “President Trump has made multiple offers to Democrats. I hope they will soon negotiate.”
Last week, Cassidy announced his support for the Shutdown Fairness Act (S. 113), legislation ensuring essential federal workers are paid during government shutdowns.
An increasing number of Democrats in Congress say they are willing to support physical barriers on the southern border:
Senator Mark Warner (D-VA): “I know we’re going to have to add additional border security…. We’ve got about 700 miles of existing fencing. Where folks say we need additional barrier protections, I’m all for it.” (1/23/2019)
Senator Angus King (I-ME): “Everybody is for border security. The question is, let’s do it in a rational, economic, sensible way. There are places where wall makes sense …” (1/07/2019)
Senator Chris Coons (D-DE): “I personally don’t think that a border wall is in and of itself immoral.” (1/13/2019)
Senator Tom Carper (D-DE): “I am a huge advocate of border security. I think fencing makes sense in a lot of places. We have hundreds of miles of fencing, and in a lot of places, fences alongside roads make sense.” (1/15/2019)
Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD): “Certainly, you need barriers. And we support barriers.” (1/04/2019)
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR): “Some fencing is useful. Some barriers are useful.” (1/07/2019)
Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV): “I voted to fund President Trump’s wall. Check the vote.” (6/14/2018)
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD): “Look, I think physical barriers are part of the solution. … If it’s protecting people, it’s moral. … So we’re for border security and I think we can get there.” (1/22/2019)
Representative Elaine Luria (D-VA): “He’s not talking about a wall from sea to shining sea. That is not what we are talking about. We are talking about physical barriers as recommended by experts.” (1/23/2019)
Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN): “Give Trump the money. … I’d give him the whole thing … and put strings on it so you make sure he puts the wall where it needs to be. Why are we fighting over this? We’re going to build that wall anyway, at some time.” (1/22/2019)
Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI): “I think if we can get in a room and have a discussion about border security, that you would be surprised at the amount of money people are willing to put into border security and it would contain many things. We need the experts in the room. And we need more Custom and Border Patrol. If there are places that some kind of barrier should be part of it, then that’s part of it.” (1/24/2019)
Representative Adam Smith (D-WA): “The wall is not in itself a bad idea, it’s just – it’s been done.” (1/06/2019)
Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL): “If we have a partial wall, if we have fencing, if we have technology used to keep our borders safe, all of that is fine …” (1/04/2019)
Representative Anthony Brindisi (D-NY): “Some element of a physical barrier, better technology, more border agents are all things I support.” (1/11/2019)
Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-MI): “[A]m I willing to talk about more fencing and more drones and technology and radar and border agents? Absolutely.” (1/19/2019)
Representative Katie Hill (D-CA): “We know that there’s already fencing and other physical barriers across the border in many different places, but there are gaps… For many of us there’s not really doubt that some kind of physical barrier is necessary.” (1/12/2019)
Representative John Garamendi (D-CA): “And there are numerous things that need to be done to enhance border security. Certainly, fences and walls are a piece of it…” (12/13/2018)
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