Should the Treasury Secretary be allowed to accept and use public donations toward the construction of a border wall?

Government Operations (e.g., Election Laws) Immigration National Security and Defense
Buy a Brick, Build the Wall Act of 2019 (H.R. 32)
Awaiting Vote
Bill Summary

This bill authorizes the Department of the Treasury to accept gifts of money for designing, constructing, or maintaining a barrier on the U.S. and Mexico border. Treasury shall establish a trust fund and website for that purpose. In recent weeks, flourishing GoFundMe pages have pooled money from private citizens who wish to donate their personal funds toward the construction of a wall on the United States-Mexico border. If passed, this bill would allow the Treasury Secretary to accept this money and place it into an account known as the “Border Wall Trust Fund,” from which funds could be withdrawn toward use on border wall construction. Sponsor: Rep. Warren Davidson (Republican OH-8)
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Opponents say

• Current law states that “gifts may not be accepted, used, or disposed of unless specifically permitted" by Congress.” According to USA Today, “Much of the policy is wrapped around ethical concerns and aims to halt outside money from swaying the agency's decisions.”
• “Obviously, we can’t let citizens raise money and say, ‘The government will spend my money on this purpose.’” - Rep. Bob Goodlatte (Republican VA-6)

Proponents say

• “The American people have already donated over $18 MILLION to fund the border security wall. We need to pass [this] bill.... It would allow the Treasury to use this money to secure our border.” - Rep. Jim Jordan (Republican OH-4)
• “Open border radicals make our country less safe for families everywhere. In 2017, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seized 2,379 pounds of fentanyl and 6,967 pounds of heroin - drugs that would otherwise have made their way to Ohio streets for sale. This bill creates a way for our citizens to pitch in and help efforts to secure the border, support President Trump's commitment to build the wall, and keep future generations safe.” - Rep. Warren Davidson (Republican OH-8)
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