Webster Introduces Bill to Block Biden from Diverting Veteran Resources to Illegal Immigrants

Washington, DC - Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, joined Rep. Steve Womack (AR-3) to introduce the Veterans First Act of 2022 which will stop the White House from diverting resources from our veterans to manage their self-inflicted southern border crisis. This legislation specifically prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from prioritizing the needs of illegal immigrants over our nation’s heroes as the Biden Administration expects a surge at the southern border following their efforts to rescind Trump-era immigration policy, Title 42.

“Our veterans and their families make the ultimate sacrifice to defend the freedoms we hold dear,” said Rep. Webster. “I am committed to holding the Biden Administration accountable for their consideration of redirecting funds earned by our nation’s heroes to address their own gross policy failures. We must ensure that those who have already sacrificed so much for this country receive the care they were promised when they entered our nation’s service. We owe them a debt we can never repay.”

“First, the Biden Administration floated compensating illegal immigrants with hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars. Now, they’re considering taking resources from our veterans to deal with a border surge of their own making,” said Rep. Womack. “It’s insanity. Our heroes shouldn’t carry the burden of President Biden’s failings. We won’t stand for having the care of those who have proudly worn America’s uniform redirected to deal with the consequences of the White House’s disastrous immigration policies.”

Just this week, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed that conversations between agency staff indicating a diversion of VA resources, doctors, and nurses to help care for illegal immigrants have happened. This follows previous reports of the Biden Administration considering what interagency resources could be deployed to deal with surges should Title 42 be repealed. The Democrat majority has failed to secure the border, leading to the largest wave of illegal border crossings in our country’s history, including over 1.5 million border encounters in just the past six months.

The Veterans First Act of 2022 is supported by 30 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), Claudia Tenney (NY-22), 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).

Bill text can be found here.

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