Act Now on Immigration Reform/Border Security Transcript: Congressional Record June 29, 2006

Mr. Speaker, it appears that the Republican majority has no interest in securing our borders before the November election.

After months of debating in Congress and several speeches by the President, including one in prime time, it now appears the Republican majority would rather talk about the issue than actually solve the problem.

President Bush has spent a lot of time recently talking about the need for a comprehensive immigration bill. If he really feels strongly about the issue he should call congressional leaders from both the House and the Senate to the White House and hammer out a compromise. Otherwise it seems House Republicans are willing to stall until the fall which we all know will make it impossible to pass a bill before the November election.

Mr. Speaker, it's time the majority take border security seriously. Since September 11 the Bush Administration and Republican Congress have severely under funded border security, broken their promise to fund new border patrol agents, additional detention beds, and additional immigration investigators.

Because of these funding failures, our borders are not secure. It's time the House Republicans stop their stalling and actually come to the negotiating table.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.