Speech #1140025762

Now. there may be a time and a place to revisit the sequestration law. but that time and that place is not on this law. This law is for us to do what we must do to defend the United States of America. and this bill does that. Another issue that we will be hearing a lot today is a proposed amendment by my colleague from Alabama . and that deals with the issue of immigration. Now. you may ask: Why are we talking about immigration in regard to a bill on national defense? That is a good question. We should not be. During the Armed Services Committees consideration of this billand it went for 18 hours late in the processone of our members offered an amendment to insert the immigration issue into this bill. It was unfortunate. and it was inappropriate. The Brooks amendment proposes to take it out. and we are going to have spirited debate during this rule. I predict. and during the debate on the bill. but make no mistake about it. however important you think or I think the immigration issue is. however much we think that that should come to this floor for consideration. this bill. a bill on the defense of the United States of America. is not the right bill for us to consider it in. There are other committees of jurisdiction that are supposed to do thatHomeland Security. for example. Those committees need to go through their process and make sure they do what they need to do. and then it can come to this floor. but it should not come to this floor to confuse this bill that deals with the defense of the United States of America.