Sen. Ted Cruz slammed President Barack Obama and the Democrats for the gridlock that has paralyzed Congress.
"It should embarrass all of us, and it's the result of a deliberate partisan decision," the Texas Republican said in an interview
to air on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.
The tea party-backed freshman senator cited the stalemate over the border crisis as a recent example of Washington inaction.
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Obama has asked Congress for $3.7 billion in emergency aid to address the thousands of illegal immigrant minors who have been arrested in South Texas, but Republicans and Democrats have slashed billions from his request in proposals expected to be voted on next week.
Congress begins its five-week summer recess on Aug. 1.
"The crisis on the border, unfortunately President Obama and Harry Reid have demonstrated no interest in solving it," Cruz said in the interview. "President Obama a couple of weeks ago was down in Texas. He went to Democratic party fundraisers, had plenty of time to pal around with fat cats in the Democratic party, and collect their checks for politics.
"But he had no time to go to the border," Cruz said. "He had no time to visit the Air Force bases where these children are being held, are suffering because of the failures of his immigration policy and his lawlessness."
Obama came under intense fire by Republicans and law-enforcement officials for not visiting the border while in the Lone Star State for two days' worth of fundraisers this month.
The president
countered that he would not go because "I'm not interested in photo-ops."