Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to S. 5. I rise in opposition to S. 5 because the bill is redundant. In fact, the provisions in this bill to penalize those who have committed violent crimes are already included in the penal code. So this legislation is redundant. What it does do, in fact, is it would force ICE to treat minor offenses as violent ones. That includes, of course, a child caught stealing a candy bar from Walmart, someone who jumps the turnstile in a New York City subway or takes a box of cornflakes because they otherwise have no way to make ends meet. It also sends a chilling effect out there amongst law-abiding families and workers who are too frightened to show up to their shifts at farms, hospitals, businesses, and schools across the country. Mr. Speaker, this bill is redundant, and, frankly, the Laken Riley family should not be subject to the political theater that is about to happen here today. In fact, we should be looking at this issue to fix the problems of both the border, but also to regularize Dreamers, farmworkers, and keep families whole. At the end of the day, Dreamers are productive. They contribute to our society. Farmers need their workers, and we need their workers. Families need to stay together because families that are divided are weak families, and that makes a weak nation. So this is a redundant bill. While they are targeting the immigrant communities for stealing a candy bar, the folks from January 6, get this, Mr.…”