Press Releases

Washington, DC—May 4, 2022….Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) recently introduced the Veterans First Act of 2022 to stop the White House from diverting resources for our veterans to manage their self-inflicted southern border crisis. The legislation specifically prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from prioritizing the needs of illegal immigrants over our nation’s heroes as the Biden Administration expects a surge at the southern border following their efforts to rescind the Trump-era immigration policy Title 42. Here’s what members are saying about the bill:

“Our veterans and their families make the ultimate sacrifice to defend the freedoms we hold dear. I am committed to holding the Biden Administration accountable for their consideration of redirecting funds earned by our nation’s heroes to address their own gross policy failures. We must ensure that those who have already sacrificed so much for this country receive the care they were promised when they entered our nation’s service. We owe them a debt we can never repay.” – Congressman Daniel Webster (FL-11)

“It is unconscionable that the Biden Administration would even consider diverting resources from our nation’s heroes to tend to the needs of those who are illegally entering our country. This is yet another prime example of how this Administration has its priorities screwed up.” – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)

“If you need an example of an ‘America Last’ policy, look no further. Joe Biden is forcing VA doctors to abandon American heroes in order to care for illegal immigrants, all because he refuses to enforce the law and secure the border. This should be a no-brainer: prioritize those who have defended our country and our laws, not those who break the law.” – Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18)

“It is nothing short of outrageous for the Biden administration to even consider using resources designated for our veterans as a band-aid for the border crisis that was caused by the Biden administration itself. The policies of tough enforcement, a border wall, Remain in Mexico, and support for border agents, all of which happened under the Trump administration, are the solutions to the current crisis. Veterans should not have to suffer because of the Biden administration's dereliction of duty on the southern border. Big thanks go out to Rep. Womack for leading this bill.” – Congressman Ted Budd (NC-13)

“It’s absolutely unconscionable that this administration would even think to send VA resources to the southern border to manage the crisis that Biden created. Any time our VA doctors are spending time away from their primary mission is unacceptable, and at a time when more veterans than ever are utilizing VA care, it is infuriating that this administration is willing to divert precious resources away from veterans and to illegal immigrants, all in the name of a political agenda. We must always put our veterans first.” – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-3)

“America is home of the free, because of the brave. Our veterans pledged an oath to our country, and since entering Congress I have worked to prioritize our veterans and their needs. I am appalled by the Biden Administration’s suggestion of diverting resources dedicated to our veterans and reallocating these funds to manage a crisis they have routinely sustained and refused to draft effective policy to mitigate. I thank my friend and fellow Arkansan, Rep. Steve Womack, for introducing this legislation that will continue to prioritize putting our veterans first.” – Congressman French Hill (AR-2)

“The fact that we even need to introduce this legislation is very concerning, and it demonstrates the flawed priorities of the current administration. Under no circumstance should resources be taken from the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist with the influx of illegal immigrants at our southern border. I’d hope a majority of my colleagues in the House would agree we should not be diverting resources from our veterans – who earned their benefits through service and sacrifice – to focus on the growing number of law-breakers trying to cross into the United States. Americans simply want the Biden administration to uphold our commitment to our veterans and enforce existing immigration laws.” – Congressman Bill Johnson (OH-6)

“President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas’ failure to secure the Southern Border is a complete dereliction of duty. The American people are less safe because of their incompetence, and now, our veterans could be forced to pay the price. Wait times for veterans to see doctors through the VA can already average 22 days. This is unacceptable, and it is even worse that the Administration is contemplating driving these wait times up even further, all to cover up for their incompetence at our Southern Border. I will never stop fighting for our veterans, who should never be treated as second-class citizens.” – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)

“For the past year-and-a-half, President Biden and his Administration have relentlessly pursued open border policies that have left the southern border unsecured and Border Patrol overwhelmed with ceaseless illegal crossings, drug smuggling, and crime. The fact that the president and DHS are even considering using resources allocated for our nation’s veterans who honorably served is a slap in the face of every citizen and every American who has served in the military. Veterans and their families should not have to pay the price for Biden’s and Democrats’ open border policies.” – Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (TN-3)

“Reports that the Biden administration is considering using VA resources to mitigate its self-inflicted border crisis are unacceptable. President Biden must maintain Title 42 and secure our border, but not at the expense of our veterans. I am proud to join Rep. Womack and my colleagues in introducing the Veterans First Act of 2022, a vital piece of legislation for supporting our veterans and ensuring we keep every promise made to these heroes and their families for their service." – Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-8)

“Nearly every day, we hear from West Virginia’s veterans whose health care and other benefits are severely delayed. Now, the Biden Administration wants to take money from the men and women who bravely defended our country to deal with their self-inflicted illegal immigration crisis at the southern border. In a further attempt to appease the far-left, the Biden Administration has moved to rescind Title 42, which officials say will cause a dangerous surge at the border. Our veterans must be our top priority., and we have an obligation to deliver the benefits they were promised, and they deserve. Taking doctors, nurses, and other resources out of the VA to deal with the border crisis will negatively impact the quality of care for our veterans and increase wait times.” – Congressman David McKinley (WV-1)

“The Biden administration has failed miserably at the southern border. It’s wrong to pull resources away from Veterans in order to account for the intentional disintegration of our border. America’s Veterans deserve our full support. I am honored to join Congressman Womack on his bill prioritizing my Veteran Brothers and Sisters.” – Congressman Clay Higgins (LA-3)

“Our nation’s heroes have sacrificed so much, and they deserve nothing short of what they were promised. To reallocate VA resources to the southern border by the Biden administration would be a slap in the face to our veterans. I am a proud cosponsor of the Veterans First Act, and I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that America’s heroes have access to their benefits and are given the proper care they deserve.” – Congressman Matthew Rosendale (MT-AL)

“VA resources should be used to care for veterans. It’s unacceptable the Biden administration is even considering diverting resources away from VA to deal with the crisis they’ve created at our southern border. We must secure our border using every tool available—including Title 42 authority and the Remain in Mexico policy—and we must do it without putting the burden on the backs of the men and women who have bravely served our country.” – Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-3)

"Our veterans were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to keep our nation safe and protect the freedoms we enjoy every day. Ensuring they get the care and benefits they deserve is the least we can do to repay them. I am proud to back the Veterans First Act and prohibit the Department of Veterans Affairs from taking funds away from our veterans and redirecting them for illegal immigrants at our southern border. I will always stand up for our veterans.” – Congressman Dan Newhouse (WA-4)

“Shifting resources from an overwhelmed VA to assuage the effects of the self-inflicted border crisis is a slap in the face to every American veteran and active-duty member of our armed forces. President Biden will stop at nothing to cover up the mess he created at the Southern border, including depriving our nation's finest from the care they deserve.” – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-5)

“The willful diverting of resources the Congress has appropriated for America’s veterans is never acceptable. That the Biden Administration is suggesting this be done to deal with its unprecedented border crisis is even more insulting. It’s time for the Congress to truly put veterans first and stop this White House from doing even more damage.” – Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50)

"Our veterans risked their lives to defend our nation, and no resources should be taken from them to support illegal immigrants. The fact that the Biden administration would even consider diverting VA resources to the border is absurd and un-American." – Congressman Austin Scott (GA-8)

“Reports that the Biden Administration will divert resources, including health care personnel, away from American veterans to care for illegal immigrants at the Southern Border are reprehensible. The Veterans First Act will ensure the Biden Administration cannot prioritize care for illegal immigrants over veterans and put a stop to this horrible policy before it starts.” – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-1)

“Amid an unprecedented, completely self-inflicted border catastrophe, the Biden Administration has suggested additional policy changes that will result in even higher levels of illegal immigration. The legislation we are filing today is critical to prevent the administration from diverting resources away from America’s veterans to spend instead on Biden’s border debacle.” – Congressman Mike Johnson (LA-4)

"I’m proud to support this legislation to block the Biden Administration from sending critical resources allocated for our veterans to those who enter our country illegally. Our patriotic and selfless veterans, who have already sacrificed so much for our nation, should not have to suffer due to President Biden’s destructive border crisis. Veterans across the Third Congressional District of North Carolina are fed up with Joe Biden’s America Last agenda which has left them behind at every turn. Thank you to Rep. Womack for championing this effort to put our veterans first.” – Congressman Greg Murphy (NC-3)

“Our nation’s veterans should never have the care they earned from the VA jeopardized, especially because of the mismanagement of our nation’s southern border. Instead, we should be looking for new leadership at DHS.” – Congressman Bill Posey (FL-8)

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov

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