Providing for Consideration of H.R. Expanding Access to Capital Act of and Providing for Consideration of H.R. Laken Riley Act
Floor Speech
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Mrs. HOUCHIN. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1052 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows: H. Res. 1052
Resolved, That at any time after adoption of this resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2799) to make reforms to the capital markets of the United States, and for other purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial Services or their respective designees. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. No further amendment to the bill, as amended, shall be in order except those printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules. Each such further amendment may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points of order against such further amendments are waived. At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill, as amended, to the House with such further amendments as may have been adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, and on any further amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit.
Sec. 2. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 7511) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody aliens who have been charged in the United States with theft, and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.
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Mrs. HOUCHIN. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave
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Mrs. HOUCHIN. Madam Speaker, last night the Rules Committee met and produced a rule, House Resolution 1052, providing for the House's consideration of several pieces of legislation.
The rule provides for H.R. 2799, the Expanding Access to Capital Act, to be considered under a structured rule. It provides for 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial Services or their designees and provides for one motion to recommit.
Additionally, the rules provide for H.R. 7511, the Laken Riley Act. H.R. 7511 would be considered under a closed rule, and it also provides for 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary or their designees and provides for one motion to recommit.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and in support of the underlying pieces of legislation.
I begin with H.R. 2799, the Expanding Access to Capital Act. Madam Speaker, as a member of the Financial Services Committee, I am glad to see this important legislation before us today. I am also glad this rule makes in order a number of amendments, including all of the bipartisan amendments that were submitted.
In the last few years, we have seen fewer and fewer companies take advantage of opportunities to raise capital, largely due to burdensome compliance costs and regulatory obstacles.
It is crucial that American entrepreneurs have the tools they need to grow their businesses and that we create opportunities for individuals to invest and save for the future.
This bill aims to strengthen our public markets, expand options for companies to raise capital, and empower Americans, giving them more choices to invest and grow their wealth.
By cutting the red tape and creating new avenues for economic growth, we can create jobs and opportunities for American workers, businessowners, and investors. We can put America back on a path to prosperity and safeguard our future.
I am proud to have one of my own bills, the Regulation A+ Improvement Act, included as part of this bill package. The bill would raise the cap for Regulation A and allow for more small- to mid-size companies to raise money from everyday investors.
At a time when many Americans are feeling the effects of inflation, this legislation could not be timelier. It can help create jobs and grow the economy. Our capital markets in these United States are the cornerstone of our economy and among our greatest strengths.
This bill ensures that entrepreneurs and investors can take full advantage of what our markets have to offer. Through this, we can give small businesses and investors alike all the tools necessary to achieve the American Dream.
Madam Speaker, unlike the previous bill I discussed, I am deeply saddened to be on the floor discussing the situation at hand and angry that we find ourselves here. It is unfortunate we must have this necessary conversation, driven by the tragic events such as the senseless murder of Laken Riley.
This legislation and the underlying rule are in response to the brutal murder of Laken Riley, a college student in Georgia, whose life was cut short by a suspect who was an illegal immigrant with prior arrests in both New York and Georgia before allegedly committing this crime.
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to issue a detainer to any alien inadmissible to the United States who has been charged with, arrested for, or convicted of burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.
As ICE describes it themselves, detainers are ``an effective tool in keeping criminals out of local communities by allowing ICE officers to take custody of criminal noncitizens within the confines of a jail.''
If the alien is not in custody at the time of the detainer, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is required to promptly take custody.
Additionally, H.R. 7511 allows States to bring civil action against the Federal Government for failing to enforce immigration laws, including parole, detention and removal, and visa sanctions that we know this administration is not enforcing. Simply put, this gives States standing in court and recourse for their constituents who are victims of the enforcement decisions, or lack thereof, by this administration; decisions that have consequences like the very ones we are talking about today.
The Biden administration's failure to secure our southern border has emboldened the criminal cartels, leading to increased drug trafficking and overdose deaths, human smuggling, and the influx of dangerous individuals into the country.
These threats extend far beyond border States, affecting every corner of our Nation. Every State is now a border State.
Unfortunately, Laken's story is not unique. Speaker Johnson recently documented over 100 similar situations where American citizens have been victims of crimes committed by illegal aliens, underscoring the urgency of addressing our border security crisis.
The border is no longer a matter for debate. It is a pressing issue, and it demands immediate action. We cannot simply hold hearings and discussions in Washington. We need real solutions to protect the American people. The President must take decisive action to secure our border, starting with signing this critical bill into law.
I look forward to the House completing its consideration of both pieces of legislation, and I urge the passage of this rule.
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Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, you know what is a joke? The joke is that the bill that Democrats proposed in the Senate, with some Republican support, was the strongest border bill in history. That is the joke. That bill would do nothing more than codify Joe Biden's broken border policies.
Republicans in the House won't codify asylum seekers crossing multiple countries to get to the United States. Republicans in the House won't codify letting illegal aliens into our country in record numbers. We will not normalize the broken border policies that have led us here to this point today.
My colleague claims that this is just a political ploy and that we are doing whatever Donald Trump wants us to do. We are doing what the American people want us to do. Donald Trump didn't make this a top issue for American voters. Joe Biden did. By failing to secure the border and failing to protect Americans, he has failed on every measure on this front.
Given the Biden administration's reluctance to issue any detainer requests, this bill, H.R. 7511, mandates that ICE issue a detainer and take custody of aliens who commit crimes.
In Riley's case, the suspect was arrested in Georgia for theft and fingerprinted at a time when ICE was made aware of his crime through NICS. Had this bill been in effect, ICE would have been required to issue a detainer for the suspect and assumed custody. Or if the alien had already been released by State or local law enforcement, they could have apprehended him. The suspect in the Riley case was not detained and was paroled, violating provisions in the existing Immigration and Nationality Act.
H.R. 7511 would give States standing to sue the Biden administration on behalf of its citizens for the harm caused by their failure to enforce existing immigration law.
This is not a political ploy. This is a response to a tragedy and an attempt to prevent further tragedies.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my friends on the other side of the aisle: What will it take? What will it take to get Democrats to care about actual border security? How many Americans have to die of fentanyl overdoses or become victims of violent crime? What will it take?
Mr. Speaker, I want to comment on my colleague's comments about this not going through a regular process. That is just not really correct.
The House Judiciary Committee has held seven hearings on the state of our southern border. They also held a hearing specifically on criminal aliens and the Biden administration's lax immigration enforcement in the interior of the country. In addition, section 4 of H.R. 7511 was marked up in February.
We heard a lot from my colleague on the other side of the aisle.
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Mrs. HOUCHIN. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.
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Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, my colleague on the other side of the aisle says that this is on us, on Republicans, because of our inaction, but we passed H.R. 2, the actual strongest border bill that we have ever seen. We passed H.R. 2 8 months ago, maybe more, and 211 House Democrats voted ``no'' on that bill. That bill has been sitting in the Senate unmoved ever since.
Senate Republicans even rejected the disastrous border bill ultimately that originated over there that codified all of Joe Biden's terrible border policies.
Mr. Speaker, I ask: Why would this bill go nowhere? Why would we not want to hold illegal aliens accountable? Why would we not want to detain illegal aliens who commit crimes such as theft, larceny, and violent crimes? Why would we not want to move this bill forward in the Senate?
I hope that my colleagues in the Senate on both sides of the aisle would support this.
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Mrs. HOUCHIN. Many victims don't realize they're even taking it.''
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Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, even in 2021, there were double the amount of overdose deaths than firearm deaths in the United States, and the dramatic increase in overdose deaths, particularly due to fentanyl, are a direct result of Joe Biden's broken border policies.
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Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I just have two words to say. H.R. 2, we passed that 8 months ago. That was the Secure the Border Act. The Democrats own that. Mr. Speaker, 211 Democrats voted against that legislation.
I would also note that, since Joe Biden took office, we have had record numbers of crossings. There has been 7.5 million people who have crossed into the United States illegally and been paroled into the United States under Joe Biden's watch, and that has been going on for 3 years under the Biden administration. Therefore, it is not Republicans that own this issue, but it is Democrats.
Mr. Speaker, we have before us the opportunity to move legislation that could unleash growth and increase prosperity for Americans across the country in the Expanding Access to Capital Act. This bill empowers Americans with the tools they need to grow their small businesses and secure their financial futures.
We need to focus on initiatives that strengthen our economy and combat inflation. However, time and time again, this administration's policies seem to hinder rather than facilitate business in America and it defies logic.
In contrast, this legislation streamlines regulations, expands opportunities for economic growth, and enables more Americans to invest in their future.
Turning to H.R. 7511, the Laken Riley Act, it aims to strengthen our immigration laws.
In H.R. 7511, we mourn the death and honor the life and memory of Laken Riley and other victims of the Biden administration's open-border policies, and we denounce President Biden's open-border policies.
We are not politicizing. This is a response to a tragedy in the hope that we would prevent a similar tragedy moving forward. No family should have to endure what Laken's family has experienced. We owe it to Laken's parents and parents nationwide to ensure something like this never happens again.
This border crisis is real. It has devastating consequences. Laken's story is sadly not unique. As the Speaker has documented, there are over 100 stories across the country just like Laken's.
Mr. Speaker, I hope the House can speak with one voice on this bill and together do what the American people have been asking us to do, which is secure the border and institute policies that will protect Americans and American families.
I look forward to moving these bills out of the House this week, and I ask my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on the previous question and ``yes'' on the rule.
The material previously referred to by Mr. McGovern is as follows: An Amendment to H. Res. 1052 Offered By Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts At the end of the resolution, add the following:
Sec. 3. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the bill (H.R. 12) to protect a person's ability to determine whether to continue or end a pregnancy, and to protect a health care provider's ability to provide abortion services. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto, to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.
Sec. 4. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the consideration of H.R. 12.
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