Grassley: We Can Keep Government Open and Protect Borders

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said that Congress should not have to decide between keeping the government open and border security in a statement issued Friday night. The deadline for passing funding to keep certain agencies passed at midnight triggering a partial government shutdown due to a dispute over funding a border wall.

The partial shutdown will go on for several days as the Senate has adjourned until Thursday.

Senate Democrats said they will filibuster the $5 Billion that President Trump has requested.

“In a short time, the Senate will take part in a pointless exercise to demonstrate to our House colleagues and the president what everyone here already knows. There are not the votes for an expensive, taxpayer funded border wall. So, President Trump, you will not get your wall,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said during a floor speech on Friday. “Abandon your shutdown strategy. You’re not getting your wall today, next week, or on January 3 when Democrats take control of the House.”

Grassley said we already have sections of wall on the border and it has been effective.

“We shouldn’t have to choose between keeping the government open and protecting our national borders. There’s no question that dangerous individuals, from drug traffickers to violent criminals, attempt to cross the border illegally every day. I support President Trump’s request for $5 billion to fund border security,” Grassley said in a released statement. “Additional wall on specific parts of the border like we’ve already seen in Yuma, El Paso and San Diego would go a long way in stopping those dangerous individuals from entering the country. Congress should fully fund the Department of Homeland Security to make security improvements on the border, including more strategic walling and fencing, but also with the proper personnel and 21st century technology needed to do the job. I hope Democrats come to the table and work with congressional Republicans and President Trump to arrive at a reasonable resolution. There’s no reason we can’t keep the government open and protect our nation’s borders.”

“In the meantime, Iowans should know that most of the federal government remains open. The military continues to defend our national security. The postal service continues to function. Essential services during the holidays such as airport security will also continue. My office will work with the Administration to determine how the partial shutdown might affect Iowans, and I’ll keep working with my colleagues to come to a resolution as soon as possible,” he added.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore (CC-By-SA 2.0)