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Congressman Lamborn's Statement Regarding Military Construction Funds Being Diverted for Border Security

September 5, 2019

Cassandra Sebastian (719) 520-0055

Colorado Springs, Colorado - Rep. Doug Lamborn, Ranking Member of the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement regarding the diversion of military construction funds for border security:

"It is now clear to everyone that we face a genuine crisis at our southern border. Despite repeated reasonable requests for funding, President Trump has been forced to divert defense funds to address this ongoing humanitarian and national security crisis. In total, $3.6 billion will be used to help secure our southern border: $1.8 billion from overseas military construction projects and $1.8 billion from domestic military construction projects—including $8 million for a National Guard Space Control Facility on Peterson AFB. This is the only deferred military construction project out of about 100 that is located in Colorado. Of note, none of these funds are being deferred from projects executed in FY19. These funds will help enhance our national security along the border. Furthermore, barriers at the southern border will eventually free up Custom and Border Protection's reliance on DoD assets to help with the border crisis, a reliance evidenced by the fact the past five presidents have sent troops to the southern border. The construction of border barriers will help make migration flows more predictable, reduce the need for high-demand/low-density DoD aviation assets, allow DoD to re-prioritize its force laydown in support of Border Patrol, and enable more effective and efficient use of DoD personnel.

As the Ranking Member of Readiness Subcommittee, I will continue working with my Democrat colleagues and with the Trump Administration to ensure the FY20 military construction projects are backfilled as quickly as possible. It is unfortunate that it has come to this, but the primary job of the commander-in-chief and purpose of our military is to guarantee our national sovereignty."