President Barack Obama speaks at the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center in Arlington, Va., Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015. Obama renewed his call for Congress to pass cybersecurity legislation, including a proposal that encourages companies to share threat information with the government and protects them from potential lawsuits if they do. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) 
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann speaks to his supporters after winning the race for the 3rd Congressional District in this file photo.
Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., speaks to supporters after he was declared the winner of Tennessee's 4th Congressional District Republican primary race Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, in South Pittsburg, Tenn.Tennessee and Georgia Republicans on Wednesday praised the passage of a bill that would defund what they called called an "unconstitutional" series of moves by President Barack Obama to ease restrictions on immigrants who are not in the country legally.
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 240 this morning by a vote of 236 to 191. It must still pass the Senate and survive the President's veto pen to become law.
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn. called Obama's move to legalize the immigration status of many undocumented workers "unconstitutional" and "unlawful," while blasting what the he sees as a contradiction in Obama's stance.
Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., also called Obama's actions unlawful.
"For too long the president has ignored the Constitution and violated our separation of powers," DesJarlais said. "Today, the House reasserts its power of the purse by cutting off funds for President Obama's unconstitutional actions."
Like DesJarlais, Fleischmann opposes Obama's use of executive orders to achieve immigration reform, saying that authority should rest with the legislative branch of government.
"The president has declared 22 times that he does not have the authority to bypass the legal immigration system and grant executive amnesty; yet, he did just that," Fleischmann said in a statement released afternoon. "This legislation further prioritizes our national security by strengthening border security, increasing government transparency and enhancing immigration enforcement."
Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ga., said that while H.R. 240 prohibits funds from being used to fund what he called "unconstitutional actions," it fully funds other parts of the Department of Homeland Security.
"First and foremost, this appropriations bill provides for our national security," Graves said. "It includes funding for the largest border patrol force in history, increases resources for the prevention of cyber-attacks and ensures a strong Coast Guard. Second, this legislation denies any funds whatsoever from being used to carry out the president's unconstitutional actions."
Graves said that Obama has threatened to veto the legislation, a veto which Graves sees as "a threat to our national security." Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in each chamber, and Graves urged the Senate to act to prevent a veto.