Shaheen Statement on Veto-Override Vote on President Trump's Declaration to Fund the Border Wall

(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement after a vote in the House of Representatives failed to override President Trump’s veto of legislation that would block his “emergency” declaration to fund a border wall. A two-thirds vote is needed in the House to override a President’s veto.

“If Mexico isn’t paying for the wall, New Hampshire shouldn’t have to cover the tab,” said Shaheen. “It’s very disappointing that more Republicans didn’t join the bipartisan effort to stand up for the Constitution and protect military construction funding already approved by Congress, like critical projects at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. This declaration is a direct threat to local jobs, the mission of the Shipyard and national security, which is why I will continue to look at all other means to protect the Shipyard from this declaration.”

Senator Shaheen is a member of the Senate Armed Services and Appropriations committees, and has been instrumental in providing funding to the Shipyard. The funding for three of the four projects at the Shipyard that the President’s declaration threatens was passed by Congress and signed into law in September of 2018.  The fourth project, the Paint, Blast and Rubber facility, was funded in 2017.

Senator Shaheen recently led a New Hampshire Congressional Delegation letter to the President, urging him to reconsider this plan which could have an adverse impact on the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) and the New Hampshire National Guard (NHNG). Shaheen helped introduce a bipartisan joint resolution with Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to block the President’s national emergency declaration and uphold the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution, similar to the resolution that passed Congress.