Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is building momentum for his bicameral legislation preventing Veterans Affairs resources from being used for illegal immigrants. 

Tuberville introduced the No VA Resources for Illegal Aliens Act alongside House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL) last month. Since then, five of his Senate GOP colleagues have co-sponsored the legislation, which would scrap the Biden administration’s ability to process certain medical transactions on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees through a Department of Veterans Affairs program.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a centrist Republican with a penchant for bipartisan deal-making, was the first member to co-sponsor the bill, followed shortly thereafter by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Steve Daines (R-MT) added their names as co-sponsors on Monday, and Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) became the fifth senator to join the bill on Wednesday. 

In the House, Bost has secured 19 co-sponsors including Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), who represents a deep-blue district that includes liberal Omaha. 

“Joe Biden is putting illegal immigrants over America’s veterans,” Tuberville said in a statement on the bill last month. “It is outrageous. Our veterans should not be forced to wait in long lines at VA medical centers and clinics to get the care they EARNED while illegal immigrants waltz across our open border and get taxpayer-funded healthcare they NEVER earned.”

“Our veterans should have the best healthcare we can provide — and illegals who have no right to be in this country don’t deserve a dime from the taxpayer,” he continued. “Congress needs to pass this legislation to stop Joe Biden from robbing veterans to pay off illegals.”

The bill would upend a long-standing agreement between the VA and ICE, which allows for an illegal immigrant in ICE detention to be seen by a specialist or receive emergency care if needed. ICE contracts with the VA’s Financial Service Center to process reimbursements to the independent, private providers who delivered services for those cases. 

The arrangement has been in place since 2002, and representatives for the agency stressed to the Washington Examiner when reached for comment that the VA is not providing healthcare treatment to illegal immigrants, nor are they paying for such services.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“VA does not provide or fund any health care to ICE detainees,” VA press secretary Terrence Hayes said in a statement. “There is a 2002 payment processing agreement, in which ICE pays for the FSC — VA’s Financial Service Center — to process payments for ICE-funded health care. This involves no more than 10 employees, is fully paid for by ICE, and has been in place for every administration since 2002. This has no impact to Veteran care or services whatsoever.

“No resources meant for Veterans are used as part of this agreement,” he continued. “FSC provides an administrative function for ICE, using ICE funds, that has zero impact on Veteran health care or benefits. Our job is to deliver world-class care and benefits to our nation’s Veterans, and we will continue to fight like hell to do exactly that.”