Thursday, January 31, 2019

Congress Already Has Authorized DOD to 'Erect Barriers, Roads, Fencing...to Disrupt Drug Smuggling'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told a news conference on Tuesday that "I'm for whatever works, which means avoiding a shutdown and avoiding the president feeling he should declare a national emergency."
On the same day, at a hearing of the House Armed Service Committee, a Defense Department official agreed with two Republican lawmakers that President Trump doesn't need to declare a national emergency to get military assistance in building a border barrier.
The subject arose when Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) pointed to Title 10, Section 284 of the U.S. Code, which authorizes the Defense Department to provide support for counter-drug activities, if such help is requested by appropriate federal or state officials.
The law identifies various activities that DOD is authorized to conduct, including "Construction of roads and fences and installation of lighting to block drug smuggling corridors across international boundaries of the United States."
Hartzler asked Under Secretary of Defense John Rood how long DOD has been providing support to counter-drug operations at the border.
“Congresswoman, we have, at the Department, provided support to the counter-drug missions at the Department of Homeland Security and indeed other civilian agencies for a very long time, for decades. That support continues,” Rood said.
Read the rest of the story HERE.

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