May 2, 2022
Congresswoman Tenney Backs Bill Blocking Biden from Diverting Veterans Resources to Illegal Immigration
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) joined with Congressman Steve Womack (AR-03) to introduce the Veterans First Act of 2022 to stop the White House from diverting resources for our veterans to manage their self-inflicted Southern Border crisis, which is expected to worsen following the end of Title 42.
On April 1, 2022, the Biden Administration announced it would terminate Title 42, which is a commonsense measure that allows Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to send illegal immigrants back to their home countries immediately after apprehension.
A CBP source told a reporter that in response to the anticipated surge in illegal border crossings that would follow removal of Title 42, the Administration was considering diverting medical personnel from the VA to the Southern Border. Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed conversations between agency staff to divert Veterans Affairs (VA) resources, doctors, and nurses have taken place.
Biden’s failed border policies have led to unprecedented levels of illegal immigration, including more than 2.2 million illegal immigrants apprehended at the border since his swearing in.
“President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas’ failure to secure the Southern Border is a complete dereliction of duty. The American people are less safe because of their incompetence, and now, our veterans could be forced to pay the price. Wait times for veterans to see doctors through the VA can already average 22 days. This is unacceptable, and it is even worse that the Administration is contemplating driving these wait times up even further, all to cover up for their incompetence at our Southern Border. I will never stop fighting for our veterans, who should never be treated as second-class citizens,” said Tenney.
This legislation prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from prioritizing the needs of illegal immigrants over our nation’s heroes. The measure is a House companion to Senator Boozman’s bill.
The Veterans First Act of 2022 is supported by 29 other original cosponsors, including Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), David McKinley (WV-1), Dan Newhouse (WA-4), Jody Hice (GA-10), John Rutherford (FL-4), Ken Calvert (CA-42), Brian Mast (FL-18), Ashley Hinson (IA-1), Bill Posey (FL-8), Richard Hudson (NC-8), Julia Letlow (LA-5), Hal Rogers (KY-5), Bill Johnson (OH-6), Darrell Issa (CA-50), Clay Higgins (LA-3), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-3), Adrian Smith (NE-3), Ted Budd (NC-13), Austin Scott (GA-8), Daniel Webster (FL-11), Mike Johnson (LA-4), French Hill (AR-2), Mary Miller (IL-15), Kat Cammack (FL-3), Dan Meuser (PA-9), Gus Bilirakis (Fl-12), Matthew Rosendale (MT-AL), Greg Murphy (NC-3), and Ralph Norman (SC-5).
