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In
a letter, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senator
Patrick Leahy informed Trump that he does not have enough
support in Congress for his wall funding request to be included
in the federal budget for fiscal year 2020, which begins on Oct.
1.
"Instead, we urge you to support spending funds you have
requested for the border wall, on other pressing needs such as
proven initiatives that will address the threats of gun violence
and white supremacist extremism in America," wrote Schumer and
Leahy, who is the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations
Committee that oversees government outlays.
The White House had no immediate comment.
The request, which was expected, surfaced as Democrats in the
Senate and House of Representatives are trying to pressure
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell to call the Senate back
early from its August recess and allow votes on universal
background check legislation that passed the House in February.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday that public
pressure should force McConnell to bring the House legislation
up for a vote and said her chamber would soon move forward with
new gun measures including a ban on high-capacity gun magazines.
The Democratic push on gun control follows mass shootings in El
Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, that killed 31 people and
propelled the wide availability of guns in the United States
back to the forefront of political debate.
Trump has called for congressional action on guns but has sent
mixed messages on the kind of legislation he would sign. He has
appeared at times to endorse expanded background checks but has
also shifted his focus to mental illness, violent video games
and "red flag" incentives for states to deny guns to people
deemed a danger to themselves and others.
McConnell has declined to call the Senate back early and instead
has instructed the chairs of three Senate committees to work on
legislation that can be debated when lawmakers return from their
recess on Sept. 9.
The House Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over gun
restrictions, is expected to return from its summer break a week
early to work on new legislation.
(Reporting by David Morgan; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason;
Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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