Spencer Cox: “I think we need to return to the amendment that is before us. There has been a lot of heat and light generated in this…”

“I think we need to return to the amendment that is before us. There has been a lot of heat and light generated in this debate, but the amendment itself is exceptionally simple. It begins from the fact that current law provides for the training of State and local law enforcement officials to enforce Federal immigration laws. That is a voluntary program. There is no unfunded mandate in current law because there is no mandate. It is completely voluntary, and only those State and local law enforcement officials, those first responders who are seeking to partner with the Department of Homeland Security in obtaining this Federal training to enforce immigration laws, actually do so. Second, in an amendment that was adopted earlier by voice vote, we provided $40 million in Federal funding to reimburse any costs incurred by State and local volunteers, that is State and local governments who volunteer for this training, in obtaining the training. So it is not unfunded either. It is a funded, voluntary program. Lastly, what this amendment adds to existing law is simply to provide a training guide for this training that already exists and training flexibility to make sure that it meets the needs of State and local law enforcement officers.…”