Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a conservative Republican from Bakersfield who is Majority Leader in the House, has officially introduced a bill to fund President Trump’s border wall.
H.R. 7059, titled the “Build the Wall, Enforce the Law Act,” would earmark $25 billion to construct a wall along the Mexican border. It was officially introduced Friday.
“President Trump’s election was a wake up call to Washington. The American people want us to build the wall and enforce the law,” McCarthy said in a statement.
In addition to funding the wall, the bill would crack down on “sanctuary city” policies that assist immigrants in San Francisco, Los Angeles and many other cities and strengthen the authority of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat from New Mexico, blasted McCarthy’s move as a political stunt designed to energize the Republican base prior to the midterm elections.
“McCarthy and Trump’s politically driven agenda to build a wall along the southern border is undermining the will of the American people, our values, and ability to work together to address our nation’s most pressing issues,” she said in a tweet.
In addition to supporting the President’s border wall, McCarthy has recently accused Google and other Silicon Valley tech giants of bias against conservative politicians and ideas.
The congressman’s 23rd Congressional District covers most of Kern and Tulare Counties and northeastern Los Angeles County. Its population is 35 percent Hispanic.
McCarthy faces Democrat Tatiana Matta, a Latina community activist and veterans advocate, in November, but is expected to win easily in the heavily Republican district.
