Providing for Consideration of H.R. 37, Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act; Providing for Consideration of H.R. 185, Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015; and Providing for Consideration for H.R. 240, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding time.

Mr. Speaker, this is a terrible time for Republicans in Congress to
play political games with America's homeland security. Our country and
its citizens must remain safe and secure. International travel, border
crossings, and our transportation systems must be protected. In
Florida, this is an economic issue as well.

In a recent Gallup Poll, Americans named politicians as their top
concern over even the economy and jobs, and this Republican bill is a
fine example of why that is: at the heart of the House Republicans'
obstruction of homeland security is their inattention to bipartisan
solutions and their continued dodging of needed immigration reform.

Remember last session? The Senate passed a bipartisan bill. It was
passed overwhelmingly, but it hit a roadblock here in the House, and
this roadblock continues to be a drag on the economy. One particularly
heartless amendment will be offered by Republicans that directs young
DREAM Act students to pack their bags and leave America, even though
America is the only country they have ever known.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I am perplexed with the heartless amendments
from the Republicans in Congress because, in the State of Florida, our
Republican legislature passed a law last year to provide instate
tuition to the same DREAM Act students.

Now, the Republican Congress wants to send them packing. This is
unnecessarily harsh, and it is inconsistent with our American values. I
urge a ``no'' vote.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source