Political Quotes

On the recordDecember 4, 2014
I thank the chairman for bringing this legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, President Obama, just last week, made the action and said, ``Change the law,'' on immigration granting amnesty to millions of illegal aliens. The President should not be allowed to do this. In fact, article II, section 3, of the Constitution requires the President to take care that the law is being faithfully executed. On March 28, 2011, President Obama said he would not use an executive order for amnesty, explaining that, ``Temporary protective status historically has been used for special circumstances.'' Those are his words. More than 20 times, the President said executive action on immigration would not be appropriate. Nothing has changed in our Constitution, but now, the administration is singing a different tune. Mr. Speaker, I am from the Show-Me State. I would love for any of my colleagues in this body to show me in this document, the Constitution of the United States, where it grants the President the authority to change the laws. Article I of the Constitution says Congress will change the laws, not the President. The President will execute the laws--faithfully execute the laws. Mr. Speaker, I proudly support this legislation, and I ask all my colleagues to do so to stop this action.
Said by
Jason Smith
Republican · Missouri

Share & report

More from Jason Smith

May 21, 2024

I once again commend the great work and advocacy of Mr. Steube, Mr. LaMalfa, and Mr. Thompson. I can tell you they have been advocating since I have been chairman that this is an important piece of legislation to get across the finish…

govinfo.gov
Sep 17, 2024

This legislation was approved by the Ways and Means Committee with overwhelming bipartisan support, and I hope we can show that same level of support here today. I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Edwards)…

govinfo.gov
Jan 18, 2024

Tomorrow, tens of thousands of pro-life Americans will converge on The National Mall for the March for Life on the anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion in all 50 States. Today's legislation…

govinfo.gov
Dec 11, 2023

The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act empowers patients and will lower healthcare costs for millions of Americans. This bipartisan bill has been a collaborative effort, and I thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee and…

govinfo.gov

Other voices in this conversation