Speech #1030005626

I rise in support of this procedural vehicle to provide that only U.S. citizens can be registered under this bill. Even with the language we just adopted earlier. by approving the rule. H.R. 2 will open the door to the ballot booth for illegal aliens. And. it increases the opportunity to register more than once. States are prohibited from removing ineligible voters from the rolls. and they are limited in their ability to verify application information. The proponents are arguing that this wont happen. but lets be realistic. Zoe Bairds chauffeur highlights how easy it is for noncitizens to obtain a drivers licenseand thats not just one isolated case. Problems like this hit close to home for a lot of us. Just recently. in one of their biggest raids in history. INS found hundreds of illegal aliens working at a beef packing plant in my district. Now you cant tell me that these people. who will do anything they can to stay in this country. are going to draw attention to themselves by declining to register to vote. The Michel amendment simply adds a safeguard. to ensure that the States have the ability to prevent the regIstration of noncitizens. Mr. Chairman. for the past month Ive heard over and over again that finally the gridlock in Washington is breaking.