Washington, D.C.—Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statement after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled in the case of House of Representatives v. Steve Mnuchin, et al. that the House has standing to pursue its litigation against the Trump Administration’s attempt to transfer appropriated funds to build a wall on the southern border:

“The Constitution is clear: Congress is vested with the power of the purse, not the President.

“This is a major victory for our democracy in defense of our Constitution. Our founding fathers divided the powers of our branches of government, giving authority to Congress to designate federal funds from the Treasury as it sees fit. It is an important part of our system of checks and balances, and this court ruling allows the House of Representatives to maintain its critical role.

“In the Appropriations Committee, I have worked hard to prohibit any funding for the President’s ineffective and wasteful border wall. However, President Trump’s Administration has sidestepped Congress and diverted funding from our military and their families to fulfill his empty campaign promise. We must restore Congress’ central role in funding decisions for the safety and health of Americans.

“As the Vice Chair of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, I will continue to uphold the Constitution and fight for our community, our land, and our rights from the border wall.”