Brooklyn, N.Y. – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke released the following statement after the Committee on Rules in the House of Representatives approved the Republican resolution authorizing a lawsuit against President Barack Obama:

“In this time of crisis, when there are 50,000 children detained at the border and conflicts in the Middle East that threaten our security and the security of our allies, Republican leaders in Congress have decided to focus their attention on a lawsuit without any merit, a misuse of our shared resources in an attempt to undermine President Obama. We were elected to Congress to represent the American people, to act in their interest. For this reason, we should work on comprehensive immigration reform, increasing the minimum wage, and extending unemployment benefits. We should focus on the priorities of the American people, not distract ourselves with partisanship.”

U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke is a member of the House Committee on Small Business, Ethics, and Homeland Security, where she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies. She represents many neighborhoods in central and southern Brooklyn, NY which include Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Gerritsen Beach, Madison, Midwood, parts of Park Slope and Flatlands, Prospect Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Sheepshead Bay, and Windsor Terrace.