Speech #1090171362

As we conduct the last legislative business before Novembers midterms. the Republican Leadership has fasttracked a bill that was introduced just yesterday. in a cynical attempt to mislead the American people. who are demanding real policy. not this political pandering. Mr. Speaker. we have had plenty of time to have an actual debate on immigration. This rhetoric is simply a way to make it look like Republicans are doing something. when they have squandered opportunities to pass amendments offered by Democrats to help address immigration and border security. Over the past four and a half years. Republicans have voted against Democratic amendments that would have added an additional 6.600 Border Patrol agents. 14.000 more beds to detain undocumented people. and 2.700 more ICS agents. However. these BandAid bills that the Republicans keep bringing to the floor do not address the overall wound--our immigration system needs an overhaul from the top down. Arming troops to intimidate the defenseless and building up costly fences will not address the issues of immigration backlogs and more effective border patrol and customs management. Mr. Speaker. lets address the real issues when it comes to immigration. Lets talk about the work these people are literally dying to come over here to do. Lets talk about why our neighbors would risk their lives and wellbeing. and that of their children and loved ones. to get across the border for lowpaying jobs. in often lessthandesirable work environmentspicking from pesticide sprayed crops. or teetering 40 stories high in the air to make the high rises they probably also helped build. look clean.