NASHVILLE - All six U.S. senators from Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama voted in favor of the bipartisan border bill passed overwhelmingly Thursday by the Senate to avert a second partial federal government shutdown.
Senators approved the legislation in an 83-16 vote. It was next headed for the House. President Donald Trump was expected to sign the bill, which passed moments after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, announced he anticipated Trump would also sign an emergency declaration to secure more funding for the southern border to secure more funding.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, who voted for the measure as did fellow Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, called the legislation "a significant down payment on border security and a response to a major national problem."
Alexander said President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address "did a good job of establishing the need for increased border security" and noted Congress responded with $22 billion for border security, including "55 new miles of physical barrier or wall on the southern border, an increase of 5,000 detention beds, and funding for technology and more border agents."
Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., who along with fellow Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Iaskason, voted for the measure, said the Senate "took action to address the national security crisis at our southern border" and cited various provisions in the spending bill.
"Earlier this week, I visited the Rio Grande Valley to see the crisis firsthand," Perdue said in a statement. "The growth in illegal drug and human trafficking is alarming. Our border patrol agents need these additional resources and barriers so they can do their jobs and protect the American people. This bipartisan package is a step in the right direction and allows President Trump to better secure the most concerning areas along our southern border."
Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, who as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee helped forge the bipartisan compromise made by a Senate and House conference committee, voted for the bill, as did Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama, the tri-state area's lone Democrat.
"I am pleased that the Senate has worked together to advance this comprehensive agreement to protect our border and fund the remaining appropriations bills," Shelby said in a statement. "The legislation makes a substantial down payment on the border wall and ensures our law enforcement officials have the resources they need to keep the American people safe."
He thanked "colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have worked to make this possible, including my good friend, Vice Chairman [Patrick] Leahy," a Vermont Democrat.
U.S. Reps. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tennessee, and Tom Graves, R-Georgia, are members of the House Appropriations Committee and also served on the conference committee.
Upon its expected passage in the House later Thursday, according to Shelby's office, the legislation was to go to Trump's desk for his signature prior to the funding deadline Friday.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow him on Twitter @AndySher1.