Rep. Mo Brooks' bill seeks $14 billion for border wall
by Paul Gattis
on April 27, 2017 at 6:50 PM, updated April 27, 2017 at 6:51 PM
U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks has joined with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz to sponsor a bill that would reserve about $14 billion for border security, including a wall on the Mexican border.
Brooks, R-Huntsville, filed his bill on Thursday as companion legislation that Cruz, R-Texas, has introduced in the Senate.
Brooks led Cruz's presidential campaign in Alabama last year.
Brooks' bill would reserve money seized by the U.S. Government as a result of the criminal prosecution of El Chapo, a former leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel, as well as other drug lords, for border security - including the completion of the wall promised by President Trump.
Those funds would secure about $14 billion in potential assets forfeited to federal government in the prosecution, Brooks said.
"No nation can exist without borders and the EL CHAPO Act, which would reserve billions in assets forfeited to the U.S. Government by drug kingpins to be used for border security, is a significant step towards funding President Trump's border wall, thereby restoring America's control of her borders," Brooks said in the announcement.
"I commend Senator Cruz for sponsoring this financially responsible solution which promotes American security by minimizing the trafficking of drugs and weapons across our southern border."
Brooks has been a hardline immigration advocate who has called for the deportation of all immigrants in the country illegally.
"Ensuring the safety and security of Texans and all Americans is one of my top priorities and I am glad to work with Mo in this important effort," Cruz said in the announcement. "Fourteen billion dollars will go a long way toward building a wall that will keep Americans safe and hinder the illegal flow of drugs, weapons, and individuals across our southern border.
"By leveraging any criminally forfeited assets of El Chapo and his ilk, we can offset the wall's cost and make meaningful progress toward achieving President Trump's stated border security objectives, all while easing the impact on our federal budget."
http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/in...eks_14_bi.html
