Speech #1140002784

Madam Chair. I rise in support of the SalmonThompson amendment. President Obamas recent expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. or DACA. protects a large number of unlawfully present aliens from deportation. In addition to constitutional concerns and national security implications. Madam Chair. the action poses a range of unintended consequences. Case in point: the Presidents policy creates an incentive to hire illegal immigrants over lawfully present workers. Illegal aliens who are granted deferred action are exempt from being counted under the 2010 health care laws employer mandate. which requires employers with 50 or more employees to offer health insurance or pay a penalty. Essentially. the President has created a situation where employers face a penalty for hiring Americans over illegal aliens. Madam Chairman. the Presidents current deferred action expansion promotes the hiring of individuals who have broken the law over the men and women who have come through legal channels. worked hard. and played by the rules. Congressman SALMON and I are proud to offer this commonsense amendment. The amendment merely states that it is the sense of Congress that this administration should not pursue any actions that put the interests of illegal immigrants before U.S. workers. I encourage all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote "yes" on the SalmonThompson amendment.