Speech #1140044782

That is accountability. The American people have the right to not give their Federal tax dollars to municipalities and States that do not follow Federal law. There are lots of changes to enforcement that must be imposed on sanctuary cities. and we are going to work toward those things. This Republican Congress is going to work toward those things. just as we are putting in motion a mechanism today that holds sanctuary cities accountable. I think we can all agree that any locality must comply with the law. and they are required to coordinate and cooperate with the Federal Government. If an arrest is made. the Federal Government should be notified. The fact that San Francisco and L.A. and other cities disagree with the politics of Federal enforcement does not give them a free pass to subvert the law. If they do. there has to be consequences. The way that we impose consequences on these sanctuary cities is by hitting them where it hurts. and that is in their pocketbook. It is simple. If you dont comply with the law as it stands now. then you dont receive coveted Federal money intended for law enforcement. And that money allocated for fiscal year 2015 alone almost adds up to a billion dollars. $800 million are going to municipalities. cities. counties. and States that care more about illegal alien criminals. felons. than they do their own citizens. It is time we stand up to sanctuary cities and begin holding them accountable for their failure to uphold the law. I come as a representative that has sanctuary cities in my district. They are going to lose money for this. They are going to lose money because they are not complying with Federal law. This Federal money that they get is taxpayer money from States like Wisconsin. from New York. from South Carolina. from Florida. and throughout the entire country. People around this country dont want their money going to States and cities that dont care to follow the Federal law. Again. if you are a State. city. or locality and you choose to defy Federal immigration law. you will be cut off from three Federal programs: the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. the CommunityOriented Policing Services program. and the Byrne JAG program. These are the three funds that will get cut if you are a sanctuary city. All you have to do to receive these funds is comply with the Federal law. This bill is just the first step in restoring accountability in our immigration system. Our border infrastructure continues to fall short in too many places. and I am as frustrated as anyone in this Congress that the administration refuses to enforce Federal immigration law. These are all serious issues that need to be addressed. and I look forward to working with this Congress and Chairman GOODLATTE in the future to advance these goals. I urge my colleagues to support H.R.