Jon Kyl: “as was just indicated, we are now back on the supplemental appropriations bill, which is critical to the funding of our…”

“as was just indicated, we are now back on the supplemental appropriations bill, which is critical to the funding of our effort to continue our activities in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world. One of the reasons Senator Cornyn and I want to speak for a few minutes this morning is to make the point that we very much hope our colleagues will join with us in ensuring the quick passage of this bill so we can get on with that effort and then move to other business. There has been a suggestion that amendments might be offered to the bill that do not relate to the funding of the war effort. For example, some of our colleagues have talked about offering amendments that relate to the subject of immigration. Now, that subject is one we are going to have to debate this year, and we are going to have to consider legislation very seriously later on this year, but our view is that it would be inappropriate to consider that legislation in the context of this supplemental appropriations bill. We are aware of the fact there was a provision in the House bill that related to driver's license standards and asylum, but those are matters that relate more to terrorist activities than our immigration laws, as they pertain to illegal immigration. Therefore, our view is that we would refrain from offering amendments of that kind and would hope our colleagues would as well.…”