House conservative co-sponsors bill to block Trump’s emergency declaration

Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich) is joining Democrats in co-sponsoring a joint resolution to block President Trump’s emergency declaration seeking additional funds to build physical barriers along the southern border. 

Amash is the sole Republican to sign on to measure, according to Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), who is spearheading the efforts.

“Right now I believe that we’re at about 226 or 227 co-sponsors including one Republican, Justin Amash, and I look forward to getting more support as the days go on,” Castro told reporters on a call Friday.

{mosads}Amash’s office said the congressman feels the situation does not qualify as a national emergency. 

“A national emergency declaration for a non-emergency is void. A prerequisite for declaring an emergency is that the situation requires immediate action and Congress does not have an opportunity to act. @POTUS @realDonaldTrump is attempting to circumvent our constitutional system,” Amash tweeted following Trump’s announcement. 

A national emergency declaration for a non-emergency is void. A prerequisite for declaring an emergency is that the situation requires immediate action and Congress does not have an opportunity to act. @POTUS @realDonaldTrump is attempting to circumvent our constitutional system.

— Justin Amash (@justinamash) February 15, 2019

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) noted the “Dear Colleague” letter that she sent Monday encouraged members of both parties to support the resolution, adding she believes Trump’s decision is an “institutional assault” against Congress. 

Castro said he and his staff plan on making additional calls to garner bipartisan support over the weekend and will attempt to whip support on the floor when Congress returns from its recess on Monday. 

“As the Speaker mentioned, both she and I have sent ‘Dear Colleague’ letters out to both Democrats and Republicans. So this isn’t a situation where we’ve just been courting one side,” he said.

“It’s been a little bit tough because we’ve been out of session since last Thursday, so we’ve not been together on the House floor. That’s usually when you see resolutions or bills where you pick up co-sponsors and very quickly. It’s usually because you can speak to them about the legislation on the House floor and make your case [and] so forth.”