Last week, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., threw his support behind U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s, R-Iowa, “Border’s Unused Idle and Lying Dormant Inventory Transfer (BUILD IT) Act.”
Scott joined U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Steve Daines, R-Mont., Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, as co-sponsors.
“The BUILD IT Act would require the federal government to transfer any material associated with the construction of the southern border barrier to any state, upon request, for the materials’ original purpose,” Scott’s office noted. “In January 2021, President Biden terminated construction of the southern border wall. Since President Biden’s order to cease construction of the southern border barrier went into effect, the federal government began paying contractors over $3 million a day to look over unused border material, according to a report by the Minority Staff of the Government Operations and Border Management (GOBM) Subcommittee, a part of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs. It is estimated that roughly one-quarter of a billion dollars in taxpayer-funded materials are sitting on our southern border.”
“We are witnessing a crisis of historic proportions at our Southern border under the Biden administration,” Ernst said. President Biden’s refusal to take action at the border has been a disaster, but his decision to cancel border barrier projects that were already underway is literally costing taxpayers billions. Here’s a simple solution, Mr. President: let’s put these materials to use, let’s end the taxpayer-funded waste, let’s stop the unprecedented flow of illegal migrants, and let’s build it!”
“President Biden and the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas haven’t just refused to enforce the law and protect our southern border – they’ve laid out a welcome mat for human traffickers, terrorists and savage cartels bringing drugs and crime to our communities. Border patrol agents have made more than 2 million apprehensions since Biden was elected, thanks to Biden’s policies of amnesty and open borders. I’ve been to the southern border four times and one thing is clear – we need a border wall now. Biden’s reckless decision to terminate construction of the border wall cost taxpayers at least $1.8 billion in the first five months following his order, and that number is rising by millions every day. It makes no sense to allow construction materials American taxpayers already purchased for the purpose of building the wall remain unused. Let’s get these materials to the states to keep our communities safe,” Scott said.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is backing the proposal.
The bill was sent to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Currently, there is no companion measure in the U.S. House. With Democrats in charge of both chambers of Capitol Hill, the bill is not expected to pass.
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