Pete Sessions: “I thank the gentlewoman from New York for her engagement on this important issue and for her leadership on the Rules…”

“I thank the gentlewoman from New York for her engagement on this important issue and for her leadership on the Rules Committee. Mr. Speaker, most of all, what we are doing here is acknowledging that the Supreme Court of the United States will make this decision; but in seeking input on this important question, we feel like the House is uniquely qualified to begin answering that question, literally, with a vote. That is how we do things around here. I do recognize and respect that the minority leader has gathered a group of those who might be Democrats--from the Democrat Party, House and Senate sides--for their own opinion, and they did file that. This is an action that will be taken today that is by the House of Representatives, and I think the Speaker outlined why we are here and the importance of it. Mr. Speaker, in July of 2011, President Obama stated: ``I swore an oath to uphold the laws on the books. Now, I know some people want me to bypass Congress and change the laws on my own. Believe me, the idea of doing things on my own is very tempting, I promise you, not just on immigration reform, but that's not how our system works. That's not how our democracy functions. That's not how our Constitution is written.'' I quote the President of the United States on addressing the same issue exactly that is before us today.…”