Blumenthal Slams Senate Passage of Budget Resolution to Fund Lawless ICE & CBP

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement today after the Senate approved a budget resolution that will allow Congressional Republicans to move ahead with billions of dollars in spending increases for Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customers & Border Protection (CBP) with no reforms:

"While the price of everything from fuel to food is skyrocketing, the Republican budget resolution puts the needs of the American people last," Blumenthal said. "Senate Republicans are willing to work overtime to deliver huge tax breaks to billionaires and siphon billions to ICE with no strings attached. When it comes to lowering costs for Americans, helping working families, or making good on our promises to veterans, Republicans say we can't afford it. The American people are watching."

Last night, prior to the vote, Blumenthal spoke on the Senate Floor to slam the Republican budget resolution delivering $140 billion to ICE and CBP while blocking the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act over its costs.

"Senate Republican leadership has continuously refused to advance bipartisan legislation to deliver for combat-injured veterans," Blumenthal said. "They claim we cannot afford those benefits…that equate to one-fourteenth of the money Republicans want to send to ICE. The same Republicans who cannot find the time or the $13 billion to ensure our combat-injured veterans receive their full, earned benefits, they'll keep us here all night to spend $140 billion on ICE and CBP."

The Major Richard Star Act is bipartisan legislation to fix an injustice preventing combat-injured veterans from receiving their full military benefits. Currently, only veterans with disability ratings above 50 percent and more than 20 years of service are eligible to receive the full amount of their Department of Defense (DOD) retirement and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability payments-leaving behind more than 50,000 combat-injured military retirees.

In his remarks, the Senator also highlighted how ICE and CBP's activities under the Trump Administration have harmed veterans and their families: "Over the past year, the Trump Administration has begun deportation proceedings for 34 former members of the military and 248 relatives of former military members. This number doesn't include the countless other former military members that have been swept up into detention by roving patrols and lawless arrests. These are real individuals who chose to wear the uniform, they are not abstract entities…As Republicans propose sending another $140 billion to ICE and CBP, I ask them if they share the same disregard for our troops and veterans or if they will join me in saying enough is enough."

Video of Blumenthal's floor remarks is available here.

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