U.S. Congressman Dave Weldon, M.D. : 15th District Of Florida

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	7.18.2008 The House is scheduled to consider H.R. 6515, the Drill Responsibly in Leased Lands (DRILL) Act. This bill contains the “use it or lose it” language that does not open up any new lands anywhere to American energy exploration and production. Read More 6.18.2008 Democrats vote against removing ban on oil shale exploration. Read More

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Immigration

Over the last several years, Congress has considered a number of reform proposals to fix our broken immigration system. Most recently, a compromise bill negotiated between Senator Ted Kennedy and the Bush Administration has been considered in the U.S. Senate. At its core, I believe this bill fails to place the proper emphasis on border security and unwisely puts amnesty first.

Below, I provide four key principles that I believe must guide immigration reform. For your interest, I’ve also provided links to articles, reports, and press releases, among other things.

•    Principle #1 – Border and Homeland Security First Priority. Border security is national security. Every nation has a duty to protect its citizens. Therefore, our immigration policy must first and foremost protect citizens already living in the United States. We need to know who is entering and exiting our borders and have the means to prevent those from entering the United States who intend us harm, including common criminals, drug smugglers, and terrorists.

•    Principle #2 – No Amnesty. Amnesty undermines our American values: rule of law, decency, hard work, and fairness for those seeking citizenship through legal means. It’s fundamentally wrong to put those who have broken our laws on a fast-track to citizenship while holding hard-working, legal immigrants to the letter of the law and making them wait years to enter the United States legally.

•    Principle #3 – Protecting the Rule of Law. America is a nation of laws. Amnesty undermines the rule of law by rewarding millions of lawbreakers and inviting others to do likewise. Instead of Amnesty, any successful reform proposal must strengthen and enforce our immigration laws, as well as improve coordination efforts among local, state, and federal law enforcement. If we enact amnesty policies similar to those approved in 1986, we will once again send the signal that even if you come to the U.S. illegally, you too may one day be granted amnesty.

•    Principle #4 – Strengthening Citizenship. The American people are generous and welcome those who come here legally. Among other things, aspiring citizens must be taught about our history, our form of government, and their civic responsibility. English language proficiency is also important for national unity and economic wellbeing. Anything less, would be a disservice to current citizens and those seeking citizenship.

Heritage Foundation Reports on Immigration Reform: