Local U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) is continuing to push for additional funding to the border with Mexico in efforts to slow down illegal immigration. The statement comes as a stop-gap budget to keep the federal government open was approved by Congress.

“As Washington stares down another possible government shutdown, the number one priority of House Leadership must be finding common ground to secure our Southern Border. This has been a top priority since I’ve come to Congress, but this Administration has reversed years of important policies and work – resulting in the greatest illegal immigration crisis possibly of my lifetime. The Biden Administration’s lackadaisical and frankly entirely inept approach to border security has put our Nation at risk and our safety in question,” Bergman said in a release.

The stop-gap budget lasts through mid-November, so government employees like border patrol will still get paid during that time. Additional questions about Kevin McCarthy’s role as the Speaker of the House will cause distractions for this additional budgeting period.

“When it comes to negotiations, we must put all the white noise aside, and focus directly on the most important issues we face. As New York City has recently discovered, every town is a border town when you have a broken immigration system coupled with an incompetent border security plan. If we do not address our illegal immigration crisis now, every city, township, and village will become the epicenter of our illegal immigration crisis.”