WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) joined colleagues in the New Democrat Coalition in a statement calling on House GOP leadership to bring the recently released bipartisan national security funding bill to a vote. The legislation would provide resources to secure the border and address the broken asylum process, support Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, and deliver humanitarian relief.

“For years, Democrats and Republicans have repeatedly failed to come together and address the crisis at our southern border,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “This week, a bipartisan agreement was reached in the Senate to secure the border, reform our broken immigration system and support our allies abroad. Despite this progress, Speaker Mike Johnson has decided that solutions are less important than scoring political points complaining about this crisis in the 2024 election. I’m calling on Speaker Johnson to put our national security over partisan politics and give this bipartisan solution the consideration it deserves with a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives.”  

Budzinski has previously called on GOP leadership to work with Democrats to advance a bipartisan border bill that will secure the southern border and reform our immigration system. She is a cosponsor of the Dignity Act, a bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform bill that invests in border security, reforms the asylum seeking process and creates new pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Congresswoman Budzinski is also a cosponsor of the Smart Border Protection Act, which invests in new technologies to secure the southern border.

Congresswoman Budzinski is the Freshman Leadership Representative of the New Democrat Coalition. Other leadership members include Chair Annie Kuster (NH-02), Vice Chair for Outreach and Co-Chair of the Immigration and Border Security Task Force Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Vice Chair Sharice Davids (KS-03), Vice Chair for Communications Brad Schneider (IL-10), Leadership Member Marc Veasey, Leadership Member and National Security Task Force Chair Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Whip Susie Lee (NV-03) and Chair Emeritus Suzan DelBene (WA-01).

The full statement from Congresswoman Budzinski, New Democrat Coalition Leadership, Immigration and Border Security Task Force Chair Greg Stanton and National Security Task Force Chair Marilyn Strickland can be found below:

“New Dems are very encouraged by the bipartisan agreement on a national security supplemental bill to help address both critical immigration and border security issues – including addressing the broken asylum system – as well as supporting our allies in their existential fights for freedom and against tyranny and terror. 

“Throughout the 118th Congress, and long before, New Dems have sought to work with House Republicans to take bold, thoughtful action to address the challenges at our borders and to ensure our nation’s security at home and abroad.

“While not perfect, this legislation is a good, bipartisan step forward to restore order at the border and fix our broken immigration system. The bill would also help Ukraine and Israel defend their citizens while ensuring critical humanitarian aid continues to be delivered to civilians caught in these and other conflicts. New Dems are also grateful for the inclusion of increased nonprofit security funding. 

“The goals achieved by this bill are important to our national security, and the American people deserve to have the legislation receive serious consideration from House Republican leadership. By recklessly rejecting the package out of hand, House GOP leadership is playing a dangerous political game. We urge House Republicans to put aside their petty partisanship, evaluate this legislation on its own merits, and let all House Members have a vote.”

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