Speech #1100073937

Pt. 14 July 16. 2007 the things that weve really recognized in the past is the review and the oversight of who we allow to come into this country is one of our big responsibilities. Lets face it. it doesnt take an act of Congress for a community to hire a teacher or hire police officers. but it takes an act of Congress and it takes the Federal Government to make sure that the people that are allowed into this country are people that are going to be friendly to us. to help us. to actually add to the quality and security of America rather than threaten it. The visa system has always been sort of the minimum weve done in the past. and the visa waiver actually is an extraordinary concept of saying we are so sure that these countries are so secure and so safe that were willing to waive the traditional international policy of having people kind of report in and prove that they are who they are and we allow them into the country. And weve allowed this with many countries like Britain. my mothers home country. and Australia. and weve allowed it with many countries. But its almost as if weve taken this concept that a little is good. a whole bunch must be great. where the political pressure is to expand this program to such a force that theres no counterbalance of saying. no. wait a minute. whos there really checking and keeping a tab on what is reasonable from a security point of view. And I think whats important tonight for us to say is tonight is a way for the Immigration Caucus to sort of push back and balance. And I dont mind people that are wanting to have this waiver expanded. but I do mind that when we do not balance the perception. that those who may for business reasons or for their own special reasons want to throw away the paperwork. throw away the procedure for security and say itd just be easier to do without it. they can say that but then there should be those of us who are willing to stand up and say. yes. but its there for a reason and that reason is very important. the protection of our families and our homes and our neighborhoods. And only the Federal Government can provide this protection. Remember. if we allow somebody with harm in their heart to enter this country. there is no defense once theyre in this country from gaining access to those neighborhoods. those playgrounds. those schools. those hospitals that we take for granted are protected. Local government cannot check a visa once the United States Federal Government allows them into the country. A county sheriff cannot check a visa once weve allowed them through that port of entry at the airport or at that seaport. So it is incumbent on us that were extraordinarily vigilant to make sure that only those that we are sure should be in this country are in this country. and it is extremely important that we only allow the waiver process in those extraordinary situations where we can look the American people in the eye and say we really believe this is a safe and prudent way of treating our immigration policy. I think people will say then. well. why is there debate here? And I think that the gentleman from Georgia understands. theres people that want for business reasons. for personal reasons. to have people coming. going from all kinds of different countries. and they have their personal reasons to do that.