Congressman Ratcliffe Takes Strong Stance Against President's Executive Amnesty

Press Release

In a stern rebuke to President Obama, Congressman Ratcliffe voted for and the House approved several pieces of legislation aimed at combating unlawful executive amnesty, reducing federal regulations, and encouraging small businesses to grow. Most notably, H.R. 240, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2015 and amendments to the bill dismantle the President's executive amnesty while funding the agencies necessary to protect our homeland. The language approved today covers all executive orders, memos, instances of prosecutorial discretion, and future actions the President may make that ignore the Constitution.

In November, President Obama took executive action to grant amnesty to up to five million illegal immigrants. He did so by circumventing Congress, despite over 25 public statements where he previously described such actions as unconstitutional.

Congressman Ratcliffe supported all amnesty-opposing amendments to H.R. 240 and overall passage of the bill, "The President severely overstepped his Constitutional authority when he attempted to legislate from the Oval Office. Members of Congress have a duty to uphold the Constitution and work within the confines of the law. We are a nation of laws, and if a law must be changed, we have a constitutionally bound legislative process that's been in place for over 200 years to do just that. My constituents in Northeast Texas share my frustration with a President who thinks he is above the law."

Congressman Ratcliffe added, "We must continue to take measures to dismantle the President's actions. His move to unilaterally grant amnesty to illegal immigrants demonstrates how out of touch he is with the wishes of the law abiding citizens of this country. Furthermore, it's an insult to everyone who waits his or her turn and follows the established legal framework to earn citizenship. We cannot let the President continue to defy the Constitution, and I'm grateful to support this legislation alongside many of my colleagues in the Texas delegation."

Congressman Ratcliffe also voted in favor of H.R. 37 - Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act, H.R. 203 - Clay Hunt SAV Act, H.R. 33 - Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act, and H.R. 185 - Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015.

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