Congresswoman Kendra Horn votes for bipartisan border control deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn (OK-05) voted with an overwhelming bipartisan majority of her Congressional colleagues Thursday night to avoid a second harmful shutdown.

Congresswoman Horn’s district is home to 16,000 federal workers who suffered from the country’s record-breaking government shutdown. It is also home to the Mike Monroney Center, America’s only air traffic controller training site. The first shutdown shuttered the facility and hampered its efforts to correct the industry’s 30-year-low staffing numbers.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the funding measure necessary to prevent another senseless shutdown with strong support from both sides of the aisle. Three of Oklahoma’s five representatives voted in favor. Compromise was vital to avert another dire period.

“Shutdowns take a significant toll on our federal employees, our economic stability and our national security,” Congresswoman Horn said. “That is one of the reasons I was a proud original co-sponsor of the Shutdown to End All Shutdowns (SEAS) Act that shifts the burden to the decisionmakers in Congress and in the Administration.”

The shutdown bill would require the federal government to withhold Congress’ and certain Executive Branch officials’ pay during shutdowns and require them to stay in Washington until a deal is reached. It would also ensure the government continues running.

The funding plan that passed on Thursday included critical investments in national security by targeting investment in technology and human resources. Congresswoman Horn has called for nuanced approaches to border funding since the day she was sworn in.

The bipartisan plan includes more than 50 miles of new border fencing, increased car and cargo scanning for contraband in ports of entry, $415 million in humanitarian relief such as medical care, staffing increases in Customs and Border Protection, increased family case management and increased detention site inspections.

In addition to funding border security, the measure implements several needed policies such as a 1.9 percent pay increase for federal workers. Congresswoman Horn has voted a dozen times to fund the government and protect federal workers and their families from the shutdown’s devastating and unnecessary impact. In addition from ensuring those workers won’t miss paychecks, this legislation will also provide some relief in a salary bump ­– in reality, a cost of living adjustment.

Congresswoman Horn voiced concern about the reports the the President plans to declare a state of emergency. Emergency declarations should be reserved for just that: to pursue funding in cases of severe and unanticipated need, such as during natural disasters or attacks on our soil.

“We’re from Oklahoma,” Congresswoman Horn said. “We know what emergencies are.”

Our founding fathers created a system of checks and balances to hold the nation accountable, regardless of which party controls the White House, Senate and House of Representatives. Circumventing those checks and balances creates a dangerous precedent.

The Gayly. 2/14/2019 @10:16 p.m. CST.