The federal government has been dolling out money the past few years like there is a never-ending supply. The problem is there is only so much money the government can squeeze out of taxpayers’ pocketbooks before the system fails.
Rising numbers of illegal immigrants have added to the already strained spend-and-spend methodology of politicians. As the border crisis worsens and more illegals flood across the country, politicians at all levels are trying to find housing for them.
Republicans have tried to stop the flow of illegal immigrants while Democrats have encouraged more people in need to keep crossing the border. GOP leaders just introduced a bill that would help stop, at least partially, the flow of money used to fund this politically charged problem.
From Fox News:
The bill aims to stop federal funds from being used to pay for migrant encampments in federal parks and to cancel the lease at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York, a controversial makeshift tent city that can house 2,000 migrants.
The bill, The Protecting Our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act of 2023, was introduced by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and passed 224–203. One member voted “present.” The voting along essentially political party lines showed that the bill is unlikely to be taken up by the Senate where Democrats hold a slim majority.
Malliotakis said the issue of migrant housing affects all Americans and officials must not burden the taxpayers. She is working with local and federal colleagues to “use every legal and legislative tool at our disposal, from lawsuits to this legislation,” to stop the administrations of President Joe Biden, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams from taking more open space from U.S. citizens.
“Turning our federal parks into encampments for unvetted migrants from all over the world is unfair to surrounding communities and the taxpayers being forced to foot the bill while having their public spaces taken away,” Malliotakis said in a statement.
She called out Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to step up and pass the legislation. She noted that the illegal immigrant issue is bankrupting Schumer’s own city, the Big Apple, and she also urged him to pass the Border Security Act out of the House.
Major cities like New York City are struggling under the financial burden of dealing with the influx of illegal migrants. The Big Apple is expected to spend upwards of $12 billion for housing and the city has been forced to slash its budget for its residents to make up the cost.
Estimates have shown that nearly 10 million people have illegally flooded into the U.S. under the Biden administration. The White House made a statement opposing the House bill before it came up for a vote.
The bill, H.R.5283, proposes to prohibit federal funding from being used to provide housing for illegal immigrants on any land under the jurisdiction of the Federal Land Management agencies. These include the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Forest Service.
Key Takeaways:
- S. House passes bill to stop paying for illegal immigrants’ housing.
- The GOP sponsor says public space should be used for citizens.
- Republicans pledge to use lawsuits and legislation to stop the crisis.
Source: Fox News