SALT LAKE CITY — A bill to overturn President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration regarding what he has called a crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border passed in the House Tuesday, but with only one vote from Utah's representatives.
The bill passed 245-182, with 13 Republicans crossing partisan lines to support the resolution and no Democrats voting against it.
Ben McAdams, Utah's lone Democrat in Congress, was the state's only representative to vote for the legislation.
"I support the House resolution to block the president from ignoring the Constitution to spend almost $7 billion without approval from Congress," McAdams said in a news release Tuesday after the vote. "Border security was funded with overwhelmingly bipartisan backing. Our Constitution separates powers to ensure a democratic process. The president’s action sets a dangerous precedent and harms our constitutional checks and balances.”
The bill to revoke the executive order was introduced Friday, and Trump said he would use his first veto if it passes through both chambers. The measure now moves to the Republican-controlled Senate.
The Associated Press reported that Trump's emergency declaration gives him access to about $3.6 billion in funding for military construction projects that he could divert to building a barrier at the border.
Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, said Tuesday he disagrees with the principle of what Trump is doing but can't support the resolution because he disagrees with the wording. Following the vote, he issued a statement saying he wants long-term solutions.
“I consider this legislation a wasted opportunity to address an issue that has bipartisan support," he said. "I have consistently spoken out against executive overreach, but this legislation does nothing to limit presidential powers. We need reform, not a temporary statement that does nothing to solve a long-term concern.”
Stewart also spoke about the measure Tuesday morning on CNN.
"The language of this bill is so tightly construed, it said that the president doesn't have this authority and it says that there isn't an emergency on the border," he said on the show. "I disagree with those two things. He does have the authority. There clearly is an emergency. I just wish the president didn't have this authority."
Rep. John Curtis, who voted against the bill, said earlier Tuesday on KSL Newsradio that the heart of the problem with Trump's emergency declaration is executive overreach and the bill focused on the wrong aspects of the issue.
“The Democrats have made this about the wall," he said. “The problem is we spend too much time here doing things that are symbolic which is why we’re having this problem.”
After the vote, Curtis, R-Utah, said in a news release he doesn't think Tuesday's vote was helpful in solving the problem.
“Governing by executive declarations sets a dangerous precedent, weakens our system of checks and balances, and empowers Congress to ignore the difficult issues facing our country," he said in the release. "Unfortunately, today’s rushed show vote lacks the substance to have an impact on truly reigning in the exponential growth of the executive branch."
Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, also voted nay.
“I voted against this resolution because it does nothing to solve the issue of border security or properly limit executive overreach," he said in statement issued Tuesday. "Bringing this vote to the floor is nothing more than a political stunt."
He explained he believes Congress made a mistake in the past granting the president the power to make such a declaration.
"I don’t think the President should have been forced to make this emergency declaration, but I do recognize his legal power to do so," he said. "Congress ceded this power to the president in 1976, and they were wrong."
Bishop called for his Democratic counterparts to find a solution to executive overreach.
“I would encourage my colleagues to actually formulate legislation that will reform the National Emergencies Act to permanently limit the potential for presidential overreach," he said. "Not just for this president, but for all those who follow.”
Utah’s two Republican senators didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment on the resolution. Both have said previously they disapprove of Trump’s national emergency declaration.
“I do not believe declaring a national emergency is the right approach,” Sen. Mitt Romney said in a Feb. 14 statement. “I would also expect the president to stay within statutory and constitutional limits.”
Sen. Mike Lee agreed in his Feb. 15 news release.
“My initial assessment is that what President Trump announced is legal,” Lee said. “Whether or not it should be legal is a different matter. Congress has been ceding far too much power to the executive branch for decades. We should use this moment as an opportunity to start taking that power back.”
Trump spoke out on Twitter Monday reinforcing his position on the border wall.
"I hope our great Republican Senators don't get led down the path of weak and ineffective Border Security," Trump wrote. "Without strong Borders, we don't have a Country — and the voters are on board with us. Be strong and smart, don't fall into the Democrats 'trap' of Open Borders and Crime!"