Washington, D.C. — Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement after voting against the motion to table a proposed motion to vacate the Speaker of the House of Representatives:

“When I added my name to the motion to vacate the Speaker three weeks ago, I noted that nearly 11 million illegal aliens have crossed our southern border since Joe Biden took office.  Many of those lawbreakers have poured into our district in Arizona, bringing violent crime, deadly drugs, human trafficking and depleting resources and services meant for U.S. citizens.

The Speaker previously said that America’s border crisis was a hill to die on, and I could not agree more.  Yet Congress “responded” to the border invasion by sending $60 billion to Ukraine on top of the $150 billion the United States has previously wasted on a war that should never have happened.  I have continuously called for peace between Russia and Ukraine, not more bloodshed and wasted lives.

We cannot continue sending billions of dollars to Ukraine while our own border remains an afterthought and lawless. That is why I voted against a parliamentary procedure to table the motion to vacate the Speaker.

I’ve often said that trust is a series of promises kept.  It’s time to rebuild trust between the Speaker, Congress and the American people.  I will continue to impress upon Speaker Johnson the need to secure our border and prioritize America first over Ukraine while holding the Speaker’s and Congress’ feet to the fire,” concluded Congressman Gosar.