Rep. Graves Votes Against H.B. 240

From the Office of U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, who represents Paulding County

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) issued the following statement after voting against H.R. 240, Senate-passed legislation that funds the Department of Homeland Security through September 2015 but does not deny funding for President Obama’s unconstitutional executive actions:

“In working to stop the president’s unconstitutional executive amnesty plan, I believe Congress should use every tool, including the power of the purse. While it’s true that the president’s actions are currently blocked by a federal judge, the legal process is far from over and the current decision could be reversed. I voted against the Senate bill because it surrenders the power of the purse for the rest of the fiscal year. But the fight will continue, and I remain committed to finding solutions that keep the government open and shut the president down.”

On February 16, 2015, a federal court judge in Texas issued a temporary injunction to prevent President Obama’s executive order from taking effect while 26 states, including Georgia, challenge the constitutionally of the president’s actions.

In January, Rep. Graves voted for, and the House passed, a bill to fully fund DHS while denying the president any funds whatsoever to carry out his unconstitutional executive actions. Senate Democrats blocked that bill and then passed a so-called “clean” bill to fund DHS for the rest of the fiscal year, with no restrictions on the president’s executive action. That Senate bill was taken up and passed by the House today, which Rep. Graves opposed.