Political Quotes

“My amendment is simple. The amendment would say that none of the funds from the Office of the Secretary may be used for official reception expenses until the Secretary of Homeland Security fully implements the biometric entry and exit data system. A biometric exit system is already required by law. In 2004, Congress mandated the establishment of this system to track foreigners leaving our country. The 9/11 Commission recommended creating a biometric exit system as well. The creation of an effective exit system would keep our country safe because we would have a more effective way of tracking people who may pose a risk to our national security. Oftentimes, people speak of the illegal immigration issue as involving the northern, southern, and coastal borders; but as Boston showed us plainly, it involves much more than that. Nearly half of the illegal immigrants currently in the United States did not cross a traditional border. Rather, they arrived here on a legitimate visa, saw the visa expire, and never returned home. The truth is, if your State is home to an international airport, you effectively live in a border State. We know that 40 percent of illegal immigrants are visa overstays; but since we do not have an effective way of tracking who leaves our country, that number may be different. This amendment would withhold funds from the Secretary's reception expenses until the biometric exit system is fully implemented. I yield back the balance of my time.”