West Central PA News

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Senate Republican Leaders have expressed their support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott's efforts to secure the southern border. Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, Majority Leader Joe Pittman, and Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin issued a statement in which they emphasized the need to protect American citizens and communities.

In their statement, the Republican leaders highlighted the crisis at the southern border and criticized the Biden Administration for ignoring their responsibility to protect American citizens against the impacts of illegal immigration. They voiced their support for Governor Abbott's use of every available tool to protect the border.

"The deeply troubling crisis at our nation’s southern border presents an imminent threat against the United States and its citizens. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration continues to flout our nation’s laws and ignore its solemn legal and constitutional responsibility to protect American citizens against the catastrophic impacts of unchecked illegal immigration. For that reason, we stand in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s efforts to use every tool at his disposal to protect the border."

The Republican leaders also invoked the Constitution, emphasizing that states cannot be abandoned in the face of an invasion. They praised Governor Abbott for exercising his Constitutional authority to defend his state against the consequences of the Biden Administration's policies.

"America’s founding fathers understood that states cannot be abandoned in the face of an invasion. That is why they included protections in the Constitution to prevent states from being rendered defenseless in the face of dangerous circumstances like the situation Texas faces today. Governor Abbott is clearly exercising his Constitutional authority to defend his state against the consequences of the Biden Administration’s inexcusable indifference toward the suffering its policies are inflicting upon border communities."

The leaders criticized the federal government for attacking Texas instead of working cooperatively to address the growing tide of illegal immigration. They called for bipartisan support in protecting the borders and enforcing federal immigration laws.

"Protecting our borders and enforcing federal immigration laws should be a bipartisan priority. The federal government’s shameless assault on states’ rights and callous disregard for the safety of its citizens deserves to be roundly condemned and rejected by all Americans."

The Republican leaders encouraged Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to join the 25 other governors who have expressed support for Governor Abbott. They also called on the entire federal congressional delegation to demand that the Biden Administration fulfill its constitutional responsibility to the states and the protection of citizens.

"We encourage Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to cross partisan lines and join the 25 other governors who have expressed support for Governor Abbott. We also ask that our entire federal congressional delegation join together in demanding that the Biden Administration fulfill its constitutional responsibility to the states and to the protection of our citizens."

The leaders concluded by stating that support for sensible border policies from elected officials from both sides of the aisle would send a strong message that Pennsylvania stands for states' rights, the rule of law, and the protection of American communities and interests.

"Support for sensible border policies from elected officials from both sides of the aisle would send a strong message that Pennsylvania stands for states’ rights, the rule of law and the protection of American communities and interests – not allowing the flow of illegal drugs and crime to continue unabated."

For media inquiries, please contact:

- Erica Clayton Wright (Senator Ward)

- Kate Eckhart Flessner (Senator Pittman)

- Jason Thompson (Senator Martin)