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Securing Our Borders and Strengthening Enforcement of Illegal Immigration Laws

 

In December 2005, the U.S. House approved a strong border security bill that puts a premium on strict enforcement of our immigration laws.  House Republicans intend to send a bill to President Bush that reflects these principles:

• Republicans strongly support initiatives to secure our borders and provide additional resources to federal and state authorities to strengthen border patrol efforts;

• Republicans strongly support strengthening enforcement and stiffening penalties for illegal immigrants who break our immigration laws;

• Republicans support enforcing the law on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants and holding them accountable;

• Republicans oppose efforts to reward the behavior of illegal immigrants who have made the choice to break our laws; and

• Republicans believe the success of our country depends on newcomers obeying the law, assimilating into American society by learning English, and embracing our common identity as Americans.

The Education & the Workforce Committee has a key role to play in this process.  In November 2005, a month prior to the House vote on the border security bill, the panel took the lead on this issue by holding a full Committee hearing on the impact of immigration policy on U.S. workers and the economy.  Throughout 2006, the Committee will hold additional hearings, both on Capitol Hill and at locations outside the nation’s capital, on topics such as:

• An examination of views on English as the official language;

• A provision in the Senate Democrat immigration bill to allow states to give in-state tuition to illegal immigrants without providing the same benefit for all U.S. citizens;

• A provision in the Senate Democrat immigration bill to provide Davis-Bacon prevailing wages to participants in a new guest worker program;

• A question of whether new guest worker proposals represent a pathway to citizenship or a slippery slope toward amnesty; and

• An overview of the enforcement of current immigration laws and their impact on the workforce.

The Education & the Workforce Committee has a critical role to play in our efforts to send President Bush a strong immigration reform and border security bill, and Chairman McKeon intends for the panel to continue fulfilling its responsibility.  The Committee’s work inside and, more importantly, outside the Washington Beltway will give Members a chance to listen to real Americans’ concerns and respond to them in a meaningful way.

Press Statements:

• Before U.S. House Policy Committee, McKeon Details Key Findings of Education & the Workforce Border Security, Enforcement Hearings - September 12, 2006

• Witnesses Assail Controversial U.S. Senate Proposal to Provide In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants - September 1, 2006

• Witnesses Take Aim at Controversial Wage Mandate in Senate Immigration Bill - August 14, 2006

• U.S. Reps. Charlie Norwood, Tom Price, Nathan Deal to Lead Hearing on Impact of Immigration on Worker Wages Monday August 14 in Gainesville, Georgia - August 9, 2006

• Congressional Panel Hears Federal Immigration Official Detail Flaws in 1986 Immigration Law, Employers Embrace Added Responsibility - July 31, 2006

• U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson to Lead Congressional Hearing on Immigration Enforcement, Employment Verification Monday in Plano, Texas - July 26, 2006

• English Language a Critical Factor in Assimilation, Witnesses Tell House Subcommittee - July 26, 2006

• Witnesses Question Administration of Current Guest Worker Programs, Describe Key Provision of Senate Guest Worker Expansion as 'Troubling' - July 19, 2006

• House Education & the Workforce Committee Chair Announces Series of Hearings on Key Immigration Issues Impacting Students, Workers - June 22, 2006

• Committee Hears Testimony on Impact of U.S. Immigration Policy on Workers, Economy - November 16, 2005

Fact Sheet:

• Protecting the Interests of Workers & Students by Securing the Borders and Strengthening Immigration Enforcement - September 6, 2006

Op-Ed:

• On English Language, Reid-Kennedy Bill Raises More Questions Than it Answers - July 26, 2006

• Buried Bacon: The Senate Bill Has Some Unhelpful Hidden Surprises: As Published by National Review Online - July 19, 2006

Committee Hearings:

• July 26, 2006.  Hearing on "Examining Views on English as the Official Language"
  Witness List and Testimony | Press Release

• July 19, 2006.  Hearing on "Guest Worker Programs: Impact on the American Workforce and U.S. Immigration Policy"
  Witness List and Testimony | Press Release

• November 16, 2005 - Hearing on "U.S. Immigration Policy and Its Impact on the American Economy"
  Witness List and Testimony | Press Release

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Click HERE for information on this issue in the 108th Congress (2003-2004)