Jerry Nadler: “Again, this bill would take funds away not from illegal immigrants only; it would take funds away from everybody in many…”

“Again, this bill would take funds away not from illegal immigrants only; it would take funds away from everybody in many States and many cities. It would take virtually all funds for police; virtually all funds for highways, bridges, and roads; and virtually all funds for health and hospitals. Most of the people who would suffer under this bill are American citizens. The Republicans say: So what? They have made the choice to be a sanctuary space. American citizens have this choice. They have the right to make decisions. That is what self-government is all about, and this bill comes along and says, let's take away the right of all of the people of New York, of California, of Utah, of North Dakota, and of Illinois to make decisions about their government. They are not really Americans. Let's take those rights away. It is pernicious, and this amendment would say: Don't even give them the time to do it, and don't even give the Federal agencies the time to adjust their policies to do it. This makes no sense. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.”