Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005

BORDER PROTECTION, ANTITERRORISM, AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CONTROL ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - December 15, 2005)

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Mr. HOYER. Mr. Chairman, let us set the record straight. This legislation is not real. It is a cynical political ploy.

Do not take my word for it. Grover Norquist, one of your heroes, said this, this morning: ``The good news is that the legislation that is being voted on, even with amendments that would improve it and make it less problematic, is not a piece of legislation that is going to pass the Senate and be signed by the President.'' So we are making political points, not policy.

This bill, even if it did become law, would not solve the real issue that confronts our Nation: the Federal Government's failure to ensure that our borders are secure. Who says that? George Bush, President of the United States, says that.

Let no one be mistaken. Our Nation has a border security problem. And it has an immigration problem. These problems were not created overnight, and they will not be remedied with a misguided, mean-spirited proposal that the majority has put on the floor today. The fact is, Republican inaction has left the United States ill-prepared to prevent or respond to another terrorist attack on our soil. Do not take my word for it. Tom Kean, former Republican Governor, and the 9/11 Commission gave Congress and the White House grades of D and F on the implementation of 17 of the commission's recommendations. This legislation would do little to prevent would-be terrorists from entering our country.

Democrats are for the rule of law. We want to get border security right. But this bill is not about solving problems. It is all about harsh, punitive measures that will not work.

Oppose this legislation.

Mr. Chairman, let's set the record straight: This legislation is a cynical, political charade.

But don't take my word for it. Just listen to Grover Norquist, the President of Americans for Tax Reform and a White House confidante.

This morning he is quoted as saying: ``The good news is that the legislation that is being voted on, even with amendments that would improve it and make it less problematic, is not a piece of legislation that is going to pass the Senate and be signed by the President.''

This bill, even if it did become law, would not solve the real issue that confronts our Nation--the Federal Government's failure to ensure that our borders are secure.

Let no one be mistaken: Our Nation has a border security problem. And, it has an immigration problem.

These problems were not created overnight. And they will not be remedied with the misguided, mean-spirited proposal that the majority has put on this floor today.

The fact is, Republican inaction has left the United States ill-prepared to prevent or respond to another terrorist attack on our soil.

The 9/11 commission just issued a report card that gave Congress and the White House grades of D or F on the implementation of 17 of the Commission's recommendations.

This legislation would do little to prevent would-be terrorists from entering our country.

Democrats are for the rule of law, we want to get border security right.

But this bill is not about solving problems. It is all about harsh, punitive measures that will not work.

This Republican Congress has simply failed to provide the resources that our Federal law enforcement agencies need to get the job done.

And, we certainly do not have the detention space necessary to keep all the undocumented migrants we detain--much less the millions of people that this bill would force us to incarcerate.

So, after allowing this situation to become a crisis, Republicans today offer a purely political proposal that promises a quick-fix, a magic bullet: Make them all criminals--the workers, their neighbors, and their employers.

And, make local and State law enforcement officials do the job of the Federal Government.

Democrats have a different approach. We want to take on this challenge in a comprehensive fashion.

We would do what's necessary to protect our borders, give law enforcement the tools that they need, ensure that our businesses have the workers they require, allow families to stay united, and honor the principles of inclusion and freedom that have always been our hallmark.

I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill

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