CHAIRMAN JOHNSON STATEMENT ON POTENTIAL DECLARATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY

WASHINGTON – Chairman Mike Johnson (R-La.) released the following statement regarding the prospect of declaring a national emergency to initiate construction of a southern border barrier:

"By any objective measure, the United States has a legitimate humanitarian and national security crisis at our southern border, and the president is correct and fully justified in demanding Congressional action to help resolve it. I fully support President Trump in making this a top priority. At the same time, while the president may have broad statutory powers under the National Emergencies Act to break this impasse, I believe he is wise to proceed very cautiously with the use of that power.

"As a constitutional conservative, I have concerns about the implications of such a decision and the precedent it could set for future administrations. One can imagine the same statute being abused in years ahead by a liberal president who believes his or her position on climate change justifies the imposition of a radical ‘Green New Deal' or any number of other leftist proposals. This should be the proper role of Congress, and it is unacceptable that the Democrats' political strategy continues to ignore our responsibility."