GOP lawmaker introduces bill to crowdfund border wall

Rep. Diane Black (R- Tenn.) has introduced legislation that would create a “border wall trust fund,” allowing people to donate money towards President Trump’s border wall.

The Border Wall Trust Fund Act would “allow the Secretary of the Treasury to accept public donations to fund the construction of a barrier on the border between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes.”

Appearing on Fox News on Monday afternoon, Black said the bill would allow those “who really want to see a secure border” to donate to a trust to raise money for the security measure.

“What happened to Mexico paying for it?” Fox’s Harris Faulkner asked. 

“I would like for Mexico to pay for that, and I’m not close enough to the administration to see what kind of pressure they’re putting on them,” said Black, who is running for governor in Tennessee.

{mosads}

Black said that since she’s announced the legislation, she’s received a lot of positive responses from Americans who told her they would “be willing to help fund the wall.” If the bill is passed, Black said she and her husband would be the first to donate.

Black, a member of the House Budget Committee, also added that the president has “built his case and hopefully in future funding there will be more funding for the wall, but why not have multiple sources so we can have the wall done faster?” 

Trump pledged to build a border wall during his 2016 presidential campaign, and repeatedly asserted that Mexico would fund it. He also demanded Congress approve funding to build the wall in the spending package due before September, threatening to let the government shut down if it’s not included.