Sens. Romney, Lee Speak Out Against Diverting Hill Air Force Base Funds To Mexico Wall

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – In a recent move to get a portion of the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border built, the Trump Administration diverted $54 million from projects at Hill Air Force Base.

U.S. Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney on Wednesday released a statement decrying the move.

“Congress has been ceding far too much powers to the Executive Branch for decades and it is far past time for Congress to restore the proper balance of power between the three branches,” Sen. Lee said in the statement. “We should start that process by passing the ARTICLE ONE Act, which would correct the imbalances caused by the National Emergencies Act.”

The ARTICLE ONE Act, introduced by Lee and cosponsored by Romney, would automatically end all future emergency declarations made pursuant to the NEA after 30 days unless Congress voted affirmatively to extend the emergency, according to the senators’ statement. Currently Congress can cancel an emergency declaration only by passing a resolution that can withstand a presidential veto.

“In April, Senator Lee and I expressed our significant concerns to the Secretary of Defense regarding the potential diversion of funds for critical military construction projects in Utah,” Romney said. “I’m disappointed that despite those concerns, two key military construction projects totaling $54 million will be delayed as a result of the February 2019 emergency declaration.”

Romney added that funding the border wall is an “important priority,” but he said the Executive Branch should be using appropriate channels through Congress rather than using money that’s already been appropriated for military construction projects.

Congress will have to re-appropriate the diverted funds for Hill Air Force Base in the 2020 budget.