MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WTVF) — Speaking in Memphis yesterday, Senator Lamar Alexander spoke about his solution to reopen the government one day before the shutdown broke a record for the longest in United States history.
The Tennessee Senator first offered up an immediate plan for ending the government shutdown.
Alexander requested that the Senate to take President Trump’s $7 billion request for additional funding for border security and ways to address the humanitarian crisis, reopen the federal government, hold a hearing on it next week, and take three weeks to consider the request.
Senator Alexander then continued his backing of President Trump in the statement, asking why the President wasn't allowed to extend the border wall he has been campaigning for.
"Today, we have 654 miles of border wall along the nearly 2,000 miles of the southern border. Why is President Trump the only president not allowed to build more wall? He has made a specific, formal request for funding. Our job is to consider it, hold a hearing, and while we’re doing that we should reopen the government,” Alexander said.
He said that following these recommendations would allow lawmakers to "reopen the government over the weekend, take three weeks to work this out, and get on with our jobs.”
Alexander also cosponsored the Pay Excepted Personnel Act to ensure the over 400,000 federal employees who are required to work during the shutdown can receive their paycheck.
