Speech #1140002361

We are not going to protect and defend by extending this bill with certainty for Homeland Security. Paris. the whole world is in unity. galvanized by wanting to stop terrorism and to do everything in our power to do so. and we in this House are hesitating to do that. If we want to take up an immigration bill and argue that the President doesnt have the authority to do what he has done. but with an intention to act ourselves. that would be the appropriate place to have this debate. but to hold up the Homeland Security bill. which Chairman ROGERS and Ranking Member LOWEY and the subcommittee chairsand we are very proud of DAVID PRICE on our side on that. and I am sure that all the Republicans are proud of their Members on their side. because they came up with. under difficult circumstances. a good billlet us just pass it. why dont we. and then lets get on with passing an immigration bill and debate what authorities the President has. and if we dont like them. then debate the merits of what he did and pass some of that into law. But to say that he doesnt have the authority to do it and this is about the Constitution really raises some serious questions. Again. we should be talking about how we are creating goodpaying jobs in our country. That is what people want us to do. Lets just pass this bill. get it done. and go on to how we can invest in better infrastructure and bigger paychecks for the American people. Lifting the economy and the purchasing power of our workers really creates an atmosphere where immigration and other humanitarian initiatives are better received. I took the time tonight because I just was listening to this debate and how people were saying that the President was acting outside the scope of the Constitution. that he had overreached. Then I asked my colleagues: What are you thinking. that you would hold up the Homeland Security bill and that you would not question the authority of Republican Presidentsor even the Democratic Presidents when they had done thisbut you are questioning the constitutionality of actions taken by President Obama? The time is not right for this. The time is right for us to pass an immigration bill. The time is right for us to. right now. tonight. pass a cleantomorrow morning. pass a cleanreject these amendments. reject these amendments and pass a clean Homeland Security bill. so we can get on with that and then have a clear debate about immigration. I want to thank the staff of the Judiciary Committee for the important work that they have done. Chairwoman ZOE LOFGREN and Ranking Member JOHN CONYERS for the work that they have done educating Members about what the history is on this subjectand it is a recent history.