{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=2677F555-175D-4C12-9082-FDF22A46C4F1", "Fischer, Colleagues Demand Biden Expand Border Wall Construction", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Republican", "Senate", "NE", "Deb Fischer", "F000463", "www.fischer.senate.gov", "fischer", "https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) recently joined 12 of her Senate Republican colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden encouraging the administration to resume and expand construction of the border wall. The letter was led by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).\n\n\u201cDespite the administration\u2019s messaging on this issue, construction of a border wall is sorely needed as communities and elected officials across the country demand a more robust response to illegal immigration,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\n\u201cYour administration\u2019s decision to continue construction of the Trump Administration\u2019s physical border wall is a step in combating \u2018high illegal entry\u2019 rates. With that, more must be done,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\nIn August, the administration sought funding from Congress to address the migration crisis on the border, but did not request resources to construct a border wall. After the Senators\u2019 letter was sent, the Biden administration submitted a supplemental budget request that failed to include additional funding for border wall construction.\n\nIn addition to Senators Fischer and Rubio, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Katie Boyd Britt (R-Ala.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and John Hoeven (R-N.D.).\n\nRead the full letter here or below.\n\nPresident Joe Biden\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20500\n\nDear Mr. President:\n\nWe write with regard to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) notice of determination to begin construction of the border wall along the U.S. southern border. This acknowledgement of the law will help deter illegal immigration. However, less than 24 hours after the posting of the notice, this administration has sought to walk back this common-sense initiative. While technology can be deployed as a useful tool on our southern border, it does not act as a physical deterrent that is required, both under the law and in the full reality of the crises that continue. Despite the administration\u2019s messaging on this issue, construction of a border wall is sorely needed as communities and elected officials across the country demand a more robust response to illegal immigration. We hope that this decision signals the beginning of a bipartisan consensus on the need for more physical deterrents on our southern border.\n\nIn light of Secretary Mayorkas\u2019 announcement, we write to urge your administration to ensure that more land mass is covered by the border wall and for you to rescind and resubmit your August 2023 supplemental funding request to Congress to specifically include additional resources for construction. Under the current proposal, approximately 20 miles of border wall will be established. However, more must be done to deter unfettered illegal immigration, which is continuing at a record-breaking pace. If we are to ensure the safety of American communities, more miles of border wall must be constructed.\n\nIn August, your administration sought supplemental funding for a variety of purposes, including to \u201cmanage [the] Southwest border safely and effectively.\u201d This funding request specifically cited the need for additional resources as it relates to, among other things, \u201cmigration surges,\u201d \u201cShelter and Services Program grants,\u201d \u201cnon-intrusive inspection technology,\u201d and \u201ccounter-drug activities related to fentanyl.\u201d This funding request did not include funds for border wall construction along the U.S.-Mexico border, despite the Secretary\u2019s subsequent decision to ramp up construction after years of inaction and reports of the Secretary auctioning off parts of the border wall that went unused during the prior administration.\n\nYour administration\u2019s decision to continue construction of the Trump Administration\u2019s physical border wall is a step in combating \u201chigh illegal entry\u201d rates. With that, more must be done. We urge you to expand border wall construction efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border. Further, we additionally urge you to resubmit your August 2023 supplemental funding request to Congress to specifically include additional resources for physical border deterrents, taking into account the need for more land mass to be covered.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your prompt response.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=2677F555-175D-4C12-9082-FDF22A46C4F1"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3198941014707088, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}