Bill allocates $1.6 billion for Trump’s border wall
BY NIV ELIS - 07/11/17 04:55 PM EDT
http://thehill.com/sites/default/fil...?itok=Y--rF4-2
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The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday released a bill allocating $1.6 billion to begin construction of a physical barrier along the U.S. Southern border, one of President Trump’s central campaign promises.
Conservative members in recent days had begun warning that they would pull their votes from a budget and spending plan that failed to fund the wall.
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) went so far as to tell Breitbart News that Trump would not sign a spending measure if a wall were not funded, though the White House has not commented on the matter.
In total, the bill allocates $13.8 billion to customs and border protection. That includes the $1.6 billion for the wall, $100 million to hire 500 more border patrol agents, $131 million for new border technology, $106 million for aircraft and sensors and $109 million for nonintrusive inspection equipment.
It also adds $619.7 million to Immigration and Customs Enforcement over current levels, for a total of $7 billion in spending.
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/34...ps-border-wall