House votes to boost border security

The House on Wednesday gave voice vote approval to a proposal from Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) that would increase funding for the Army National Guard to assist with border security.

Lamborn’s amendment to the 2015 Defense appropriations bill would boost the Army National Guard’s budget by $5 million by offsetting the same amount from the Defense Department’s administration operations account.

{mosads}Lamborn said his amendment would help give the Army National Guard the necessary resources to help secure the border with Mexico.

“They do not have dedicated funding or the additional funding they need for this border protection mission, and yet they’re involved in trying to establish order at the border,” Lamborn said.

Lamborn’s amendment encountered no opposition.

Earlier Wednesday, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) tried to offer an amendment that would increase funding for the Army National Guard by $41.4 million to deal with the influx of child migrants across the border. 

“People in the administration are refusing and failing to refuse to do the job and faithfully execute the laws of this nation,” Gohmert said.

Gohmert’s amendment would reduce the Pentagon’s Defense-wide operation and maintenance account by the same amount.

But Gohmert’s amendment was ruled out of order. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), the chairman of the House Appropriations Defense subcommittee, said the amendment would ultimately cause the overall bill to cost more.

Gohmert argued that his amendment was offset, but was nonetheless overruled.

“I think it’s fuzzy math that the CBO is engaged in,” Gohmert said.

The Defense appropriations bill is being considered under a modified open rule, meaning that members can offer an unlimited number of amendments with up to 10 minutes of debate each.