HARRISBURG – As dozens of governors throughout the nation share their support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s actions to secure the border, Pennsylvania Senate Republican Leaders voiced their support for his defense of American citizens and communities.
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13) issued the following statement:
“The deeply troubling crisis at our nation’s southern border presents an imminent threat against the United States and its citizens. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration continues to flout our nation’s laws and ignore its solemn legal and constitutional responsibility to protect American citizens against the catastrophic impacts of unchecked illegal immigration. For that reason, we stand in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s efforts to use every tool at his disposal to protect the border.
“America’s founding fathers understood that states cannot be abandoned in the face of an invasion. That is why they included protections in the Constitution to prevent states from being rendered defenseless in the face of dangerous circumstances like the situation Texas faces today. Governor Abbott is clearly exercising his Constitutional authority to defend his state against the consequences of the Biden Administration’s inexcusable indifference toward the suffering its policies are inflicting upon border communities, including skyrocketing crime, human trafficking, unprecedented volumes of narcotics like fentanyl flowing into our communities around the country and numbers of individuals who wish to do our country harm.
“Instead of repeatedly attacking Texas for exercising its right to defend itself, the federal government should work cooperatively to stem the growing tide of illegal immigration that is straining our country’s resources and deeply endangering our citizens. It is far past time for the Biden Administration to abandon its failed border policies instead of kowtowing to the most extreme and irresponsible elements of open border advocates.
“Protecting our borders and enforcing federal immigration laws should be a bipartisan priority. The federal government’s shameless assault on states’ rights and callous disregard for the safety of its citizens deserves to be roundly condemned and rejected by all Americans.
“We encourage Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to cross partisan lines and join the 25 other governors who have expressed support for Governor Abbott. We also ask that our entire federal congressional delegation join together in demanding that the Biden Administration fulfill its constitutional responsibility to the states and to the protection of our citizens.
“Support for sensible border policies from elected officials from both sides of the aisle would send a strong message that Pennsylvania stands for states’ rights, the rule of law and the protection of American communities and interests – not allowing the flow of illegal drugs and crime to continue unabated.”
CONTACTS:
Erica Clayton Wright (Senator Ward)
Kate Eckhart Flessner (Senator Pittman)
Jason Thompson (Senator Martin)