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Congressional Hispanic Caucus Demand an Independent Investigation of No-Bid Border Wall Contracts

April 18, 2020

WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), First Vice Chair Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Second Vice Chair Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Whip Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Freshman Representative Veronica Escobar (TX-16) issued the following statement after reports of a half-a-billion-dollar no-bid contract was awarded to major Republican donor for border wall construction:

"This is corruption, and it's unacceptable. As thousands of Americans die from the coronavirus pandemic and over 22 million people filed for unemployment benefits, President Trump is using hardworking taxpayer funds appropriated for real national security needs to stuff the pockets of his friends with billions of dollars of no-bid contracts to build a monument to hate."

"Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are demanding an immediate investigation by the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General and a total halt of border wall construction throughout this crisis and until such investigation is complete."

"We will hold the corrupt Trump administration accountable."

Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51), whose district includes this border wall construction, added:

"Our country is suffering from an unprecedented pandemic, and Trump is shamelessly putting his interests before those of our nation's families and workers. I demand that he focuses on providing the American people with the resources they so desperately need, instead of making his rich friends richer during a national economic and public health crisis."

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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.