Political Quotes

“Let me thank the distinguished ranking member, and let me thank the chairman of this committee. Let me ask again for the hardworking employees of the Federal Government and for the hardworking employees of the Department of Homeland Security to stop being locked out. Mr. Speaker, as my ranking member indicated, I am the ranking member on the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee. This piecemeal approach does not comprehensively address the question of the needs of homeland security. Frankly, I am in support of the work of Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Coast Guard. You will find, probably, no greater supporter on these issues, but we need to be able to pass legislation such as H.R. 1417, comprehensively, to address all of the border aspects of this Nation. This is a gamble. This is throwing the dice. This is seeing whether or not we can get this piece and that piece, but it doesn't comprehensively deal with the entrances and exits. It doesn't comprehensively deal with comprehensive immigration reform. My message is to have a clean CR, to open the government, to protect our homeland security employees, and to protect the homeland. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.J. Res.…”