Speech #1090173493

I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time and for his leadership. Mr. Speaker. with 5 days left in this session. with the failure of this House to pass comprehensive immigration reform to accept the challenge posed by the Senate which did pass comprehensive immigration reform. we are now left with a campaign stunt to try to pass something out of this House so that it can appear that as Members of Congress go home to campaign that we have done something on the issue of our broken immigration system. Unfortunately. this legislation. like the previous bills that we are debating on this floor. fail to do one very important thing. and that was. ask the very people who this bill would impact most. And that is our local and State law enforcement officers what they think about this. Because if you would have talked to them. they would tell you. please do not do this. We have had sufficient experience with what the Federal Government wishes to do when it comes to its Federal laws on immigration. and that is. it passes the buck without passing the money. This bill is no different. This passes the buck. but offers not a single cent to enforce the immigration laws that are a Federal responsibility. For years our State and local governments have been asking Congress to fix the broken immigration laws that we have. Instead. this bill asks State and local police officers to pick up the tab. pick up the slack where the Feds have failed. Mr.