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Democrats introduce disapproval of Trump’s border emergency declaration

Rep. Joaquin Castro told reporters there was one Republican cosponsor — Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan.

Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, is leading the resolution of disapproval. (Sarah Silbiger/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, is leading the resolution of disapproval. (Sarah Silbiger/CQ Roll Call file photo)

An effort to disapprove of President Donald Trump’s border security national emergency declaration is on the fast track through the House of Representatives.

Rep. Joaquin Castro told reporters that he filed the joint resolution of disapproval on Friday.

He said there were 226 or 227 co-sponsors, including one Republican. Castro confirmed that was Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan. The Texas Democrat is chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and is spearheading the joint resolution.

On a call with Castro, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the disapproval resolution is expected to be on the floor Tuesday.

Watch: What is a national emergency? How Congress gave the White House broad, far-reaching powers

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[One House Republican joined Democrats to stop Trump’s border wall national emergency]

“I believe that if the Congress rolls over on this, the president is likely to do this again,” Castro said.

Pelosi said that she hoped more House Republicans would come on board, and both she and Castro were emphasizing the attempt to build a bipartisan coalition.

“I know they care about the Constitution of the United States,” the California Democrat said of the Republicans. “I know they care about the separation of powers.”

“This isn’t a situation where we’ve just been courting one side,” said Castro. “My staff has been making calls furiously, I’m going to be making calls between now and then.”

On the call, Pelosi also emphasized that the Congress controls the power of the purse.

The text of Castro’s resolution appears to be “clean,” meaning it will qualify expedited consideration in the Senate as well, where it would have a chance of passage without needing 60 votes to break a filibuster.

In a Thursday statement, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said that a Senate companion to the joint resolution would be coming.

Later Friday, Trump made perfectly clear that lawmakers would need to override a presidential veto to stop the national emergency through the legislative process.

“Will I veto it? 100 percent,” Trump told reporters. “I will veto it, yes.”

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