Rep. Roy Issues Statement on Vote Against H.R. 6938, Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement Thursday evening following House passage of H.R. 6938, Retaining Division A (Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations).

"Today, I voted against the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill because it utterly fails to address the blatant denial of justice across the country by sanctuary cities, funds outrageous wasteful earmarks, and continues to fund grant programs ripe for abuse and fraud.

Even as we see the Mayor of Minneapolis telling ICE to “get the F out,” cities like Chicago fighting against enforcement of our immigration laws, and other rampant fraud being exposed among Somalis and generally, Congress refuses to stop funding these sanctuary cities that routinely undermine public safety.  Worse, the bill provide grants for legal aid to illegal aliens, give grants for “racial justice,” “restorative justice,” and “climate justice.” 

The only thing shocking is that only 40 Republicans voted against this abomination.

While I voted for the Energy & Water and Interior appropriations bills, and am gratified that our efforts 3 years ago to restore “regular order” has led to likely 6 appropriations bills getting sent to the President and signed – we must not continue to fund the very abuses we decry.

I am particularly proud to have personally worked to stop an outrageous $1 million grant towards a “Somali-run” community center program in Minnesota funded as an “earmark” by Rep. Omar.  With one of the biggest fraud scandals in American history happening in real time involving Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison – we should turn the spigot off and prosecute anyone who violated the law, not give them more money.  We should end the earmark game in Washington that serves as the currency of corruption.

We are drowning in debt as a nation and we are funding the social welfare state we complain about being rampant with fraud.

How about we stop that? Novel idea."