Senator Hassan Statement on Senate Republican Vote to Keep Costs High & Advance Trump Slush Funds

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement after Senate Republicans rejected efforts to lower costs for families in favor of expanding a slush fund for ICE; rejected restraints on the President’s ballroom project; and refused to prohibit the President’s proposed nearly $2 billion fund, paid for by taxpayers, for giveaways to insurrectionists, convicted criminals, and political allies: “During a cost-of-living emergency for families and small businesses, Senate Republicans today — over bipartisan opposition — pushed through legislation that puts the interests of the President over the pocketbooks of the American people. This bill expands a partisan slush fund for ICE, allows the President to continue his extravagant golden ballroom project, and paves the way for the President to roll out his $1.8 billion taxpayer-funded giveaway to January 6 insurrectionists, convicted criminals, and other political allies. Granite Staters and Americans see the President’s failures every day on gas station signs, grocery store receipts, electric bills, and at the pharmacy counter. They’re exhausted and need relief now.” During debate on the legislation, Senator Hassan put forward an amendment to refocus this bill on solving the housing crisis facing families in New Hampshire and nationwide. Senator Hassan’s amendment would have expanded the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program and sent more money to all 50 states to help build seven million new, high-quality homes nationwide. Senate Republicans voted against the amendment, and it failed to advance. Senator Hassan’s effort to refocus the legislation on the priorities of the American people followed a similar push that she made when this partisan bill was before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. During the Committee markup, Senator Hassan put forward several amendments to put common-sense guardrails on ICE and redirect funding for the President’s lavish ballroom project to expanding health care and countering terrorism and child sex exploitation. Senate Republicans on the Committee sided with President Trump and rejected these common-sense amendments. ###