Speech #1040019867

Chairman. I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I would like to rise in strong support of the McCollumGallegly amendment and state that the gentleman from California is chairman of a new task force that was put together by the Speaker. charged with looking at this issue of illegal immigration. As he says. this is not the sole solution to the problem of illegal immigration. Quite frankly. we believe very sincerely that if we take this step. it is one of several which will turn the corner on the problem of illegal immigration so that as we look at the end of this decade. we will. we hope. in a large way have actually brought about a solution to the problem of illegal immigration so this funding. which is going to be provided through this amendment. which is going to be provided through this amendment. will not be necessary in the out years. Now. as we look at this challenge. there are some who might conclude that this is simply a border State issue. We have got people form California and Texas and Florida and others that are impacted. But quite frankly. the issue of illegal immigration is a nationwide problem. and it is a nationwide problem that must be addressed by the Federal Government. As the gentleman from California said. the coauthor of the amendment. this is an issue of the Federal Government not policing its borders. The magnet which has drawn people across those lines into California. into Texas. into Arizona. and into Illinois. and to New York and other States is a problem which has been created by the Government services which we have had as the magnet and our inability to provide this kind of policing on the border.