Barrasso bill would fund Southern Border Wall with unused COVID-19 funds

LYMAN (WNE) — U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation Tuesday, May 21, that would require unobligated COVID-19 funds be used to finish building the wall along the United States’ southern border.

Barrasso introduced the legislation as an amendment to the Border Security Act (S. 4361).

The Build the Wall Act of 2024 would establish the “Southern Border Wall Construction Fund” and require the Department of Homeland Security to use any unobligated Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLRF) to construct and maintain physical barriers along the southern U.S. border.

“Border walls work. Before President Biden came into office, we were well on our way to a secure and safe southern border. But on his first day in office, the president and Democrats rolled out the welcome mat for millions of illegal immigrants to come into our nation,” said Barrasso. “We must hold Democrats accountable for their open border policies that have created the worst border crisis in our nation’s history. If they are serious about securing our border, they should have no issues voting for a policy that actually works and is already paid for.”

This story was published on May 24, 2024.