Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Chairman, the United States is a nation of immigrants.
It is also a nation of laws, and our Nation's leaders have a sworn duty
to abide by those laws. On countless occasions, President Obama said
that he lacked the authority to grant broad amnesty; however, in
November, he reversed his course and unilaterally declared amnesty.

I rise in strong opposition to his executive amnesty and in strong
support of legislation to defund his unlawful and unconstitutional
actions.

Changes in immigration law--or in any law for that matter--rest with
the legislative branch of the government, the United States Congress.
Granting amnesty through unilateral executive action makes a mockery of
our laws, and Congress must rein it in.

I am a cosponsor of H.R. 191, the Repeal Executive Amnesty Act. Key
provisions of this bill will be offered as amendments to this
appropriations bill. We will deny the administration funding to
implement his amnesty.

As a past mayor, a hospital staff member for many years, and a local
school board member, I know firsthand how this administration's plan is
taxing the budgets of our local governments, including our schools, our
hospitals, and our jails. This massive unfunded mandate must be
repealed.

Amnesty also undermines our national security by perpetuating open
borders, making Americans less safe. Finally, it leaves behind millions
of American citizens who are unemployed at this time, making it even
harder for them to find good-paying jobs.

To make the United States stronger, we must rein in this President.
We must repeal unilateral amnesty, and we must return to the rule of
law. I call on my colleagues to support H.R. 240 and the Aderholt
amendment and to pass the underlying legislation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source