Expressing Sense of the House on Anniversary of Terrorist Attacks Launched Against United States on September 11, 2001
EXPRESSING SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON ANNIVERSARY OF TERRORIST ATTACKS LAUNCHED AGAINST UNITED STATES ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 -- (House of Representatives - September 09, 2004)
Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the previous order of the House, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 757) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks launched against the United States on September 11, 2001, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
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Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that I and all of my colleagues in the House of Representatives share a profound sorrow and outrage about the tragedy of September 11th and extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and our greatest gratitude for the heroism of the first-responders who risked their lives to save the lives of others. We all honor the sacrifice of those serving in uniform and the sacrifice of their families. I regret, though, that we do not have the opportunity today to a vote on a resolution that would express such worthy sentiments without advancing a partisan agenda.
I join in supporting this resolution although I have serious reservations about certain provisions. I am particularly disappointed to see that the misguided invasion of Iraq is linked to the attacks of September 11th. The Administration's mismanagement of the Iraq war continues to divert attention and resources away from our efforts to capture Osama bin Laden, who launched the terrorist attacks of September 11th. It is particularly ironic that this language is offered the very week we mark the tragic loss of over 1,000 brave men and women in Iraq.
I would also like to note my strong reservations about the reference to the US-VISIT program in this resolution. Although the Department of Homeland Security has described US-VISIT as "an important new element in the global war against terrorism," a Senate Judiciary report concluded that "implementing an automated entry/exit control system [such as US-VISIT] has absolutely nothing to do with ..... halting the entry of terrorists into the United States. An automated entry/exit control system will at best provide information only on those who have overstayed their visas."
US-VISIT is hurting businesses and families in McAllen, Pharr, and La Jolla and other communities along the U.S.-Mexico border by disrupting international trade. Under current DHS policies, Canadian visitors may stay up to 6 months and travel anywhere in the United States without obtaining any visa or enduring any immigration paperwork. In contrast, visitors from Mexico must go through an extensive process to obtain a B1/B2 laser visa (also known as a Border Crossing Card), which only allows a 30-day stay within a restricted zone close to the Mexican border. These restrictions make little national security sense given that the only known entries of terrorist across our land border have been from Canada, not Mexico.
Unfortunately, given the disparity in treatment of visitors from our 2 closest neighbors, Mexico and Canada, US-VISIT is more about stopping migration from Mexico than it is about national security.
I am also concerned that the resolution does not express the importance of balancing the protection of our country from future terrorist attacks with the need to protect the civil liberties of our citizens. We must not sacrifice our democracy in a misguided attempt to save it.
Those who lost loved ones on September 11th, those who came to their aid, and those who serve our country in uniform deserve our recognition and support in a resolution unencumbered by a partisan agenda.
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