Providing for Consideration of H.R. 5230, Secure the Southwest Border Act of 2014; Providing for Consideration of H.R. 5272, Prohibitions Relating to Deferred Action for Aliens; and Providing for Consideration of Motions to Suspend the Rules

Floor Speech

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Mr. SESSIONS. The rule provides for expedited consideration of H.R. 5230 and H.R. 5272.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because we are facing an unprecedented crisis on America's southern border. Nearly 60,000 unaccompanied alien children have entered the United States illegally this fiscal year, most of whom have come through the Texas-Mexico border, and today, our country faces a threat to our sovereignty and to our rule of law.

The time to act is now. It would be irresponsible for this body to go home for a month without doing our part to help work and solve this problem. I am glad that Members of the House recognize their duty to finish the job. I believe the House has put specific, concrete proposals to act in the best interest of the United States.

Let's take a look at what this crisis on our border is doing. First, the President's catch-and-release program is a big part of the problem. Under this program, nearly 90 percent of unaccompanied alien children have been placed with their families in the United States, many of whom are here illegally themselves.

Second, there is the President's DACA program. DACA is a major reason for the influx of illegal immigrants to the United States. The Director on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently testified to the Judiciary Committee that 700,000 undocumented immigrants have taken advantage of DACA.

Third, there is the 2008 trafficking law, which has allowed so many to effectively skip out on the judicial process and live in our country illegally. Catch and release under the President's proposal is wrong and bad for our country, and only encourages many, many more to continue the trek here.

Combined, these policies, plus signals from the administration, encouraged more illegal immigration and have led to the border crisis that we face today. To stop this crisis, our border must be secured and the tide of illegal immigration should be stemmed. I believe that this rule provides for legislation to accomplish that goal.

H.R. 5230 would provide $659 million for border security, the enforcement of existing laws, illegal immigration prevention, and humanitarian assistance. Additionally, $70 million would be provided for National Guard border efforts. This proposal is paid for, which means that it does not result in any new or additional Federal spending this fiscal year.

However, the House will not simply throw money at the problem. This package also makes specific, concrete policy changes to address the underlying problems that are fueling this crisis. Specifically, it prevents the administration from spending taxpayer dollars to adjudicate any new applications under DACA or any other similar policy. The package also amends the 2008 trafficking law so that all unaccompanied alien children are treated the same as, under the law today, Mexicans and Canadians, and this is for the purpose of removals.

It also provides additional temporary judges to help guarantee that these children get their day in court within 14 days from their initial screening. It also strengthens laws against criminals and those with serious drug-related convictions and those who have them from applying for asylum. It allows for customs and border protection activities on Federal land. Similarly, it authorizes the deployment of the National Guard to our southern border.

Finally, it prohibits the housing of unauthorized immigrants on military bases if housing them would displace members of the Armed Forces or any Active Duty or it interferes with military activity.

These steps come after a series of conversations with members of the majority. We have an obligation to get this bill done. As a Texan, I have pushed and pushed and pushed for us to make sure that we had a bill that could be supported by our Members. It is Texas and those living on the border that are seeing tremendous conditions that are placing our States and local people at a disadvantage.

Thus, I want to thank the Members for continuing to work together on a bill to get 218 votes. I applaud those who spent the time, including today, dedicating themselves to putting the package together. I thank the staff. And as always, I expect and want this body to support this good piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I also appreciate the gentlewoman, her team, and all of our staffs who have worked overtime, including our Appropriations staff and our staff from Energy and Commerce who helped us with this, as well as the Judiciary staff.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I have a fundamental disagreement with the President on the question of the border, and that is why we are here today.

You have heard Republican speakers talking about how we believe that the rule of law is important. We believe that America is a great and awesome country and that we are very compassionate, but we take in millions of people each year through a legal process. America is a land of immigrants, but the rule of law is important also. We have problems with our borders. We have had problems with our borders for years, but in particular, after 9/11, the threats that are against this country have placed enormous pressure not only on our law enforcement but on air, land, sea, rail. We feel that the Federal Government should do a better job of not encouraging people to come to this country, bypassing the laws and laying down enforcement and making it easier for our country to be invaded.

That is what is happening right now.

Some 70,000 people have come to our border, and Republicans are standing up and are talking about this in a proper way. We believe that the people who have come here should be allowed to go back home. We should help them, and we should facilitate that. We believe that the rule of law--the processes that we have got to follow to do that--must be followed.

Yesterday, there was an amendment before the Rules Committee asking for almost $180 million to help pay for these children who, as the guests of the Democratic Party and the President, will stay in this country. We are going to have to end up paying about--$180 million was the request, for 60 days for our local school districts.

There are enormous questions that abound about what will happen, who will pay, how this is supposed to happen when, in fact, America at this time has 25 million people unemployed and underemployed. It is a tremendous deficit that we face. Our social systems and networks are burdened already, and we have many people whom, ourselves, we cannot help--but what do we do? We take on more people.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is time that we listen to the American people and that we listen to what we are trying to do here, and that is to face up to what we were sent here to do, which is to make tough choices and tough decisions. I believe what we are doing is correct. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the resolution and ``yes'' on the underlying legislation.

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