“My district in the state of Arizona has paid a heavy price”
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords called on her colleagues in Congress today to “move with a sense of urgency” and pass legislation overhauling the nation's immigration laws.
In her inaugural speech on the floor of the House of Representatives, Giffords said a comprehensive immigration reform package needs to include modern technology to secure the border, more border patrol agents, tough employer sanctions for businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants, and a guest-worker program.
“For too long, Congress and Washington have failed to act and we must secure the border now,” said Giffords, a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees. She vowed to make immigration her top priority and work with colleagues “on both sides of the aisle” to fix this problem.
Giffords' Friday afternoon speech came near the end of her first full week as a member of the 110th Congress. Before leaving Washington to return to her 8th Congressional District, Giffords voted for legislation requiring the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors and people with disabilities in the Medicare program.
The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007, which overwhelmingly passed the House, gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services the discretion on how best to implement negotiating authority and achieve the greatest price discounts.
“This bill will result in real savings for the 22 million Americans enrolled in Medicare drug plans,” Giffords said after the vote. “That includes thousands of my constituents in Southeastern Arizona.”
Giffords added that the past week has been a busy one in Washington, with the passage of bills to reform House ethics rules, raise the minimum wage, implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and advance stem cell research.
“I am proud to be a part of a Congress that is making change a reality,” she said.
Below is the text of the speech delivered by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Friday, Jan. 12 on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak for the very first time in this distinguished chamber, representing the 8th district of Arizona.
Mr. Speaker, we have made some major accomplishments this week, but one area that particularly pertains to my district and to the State of Arizona has not been addressed and that's the crisis in illegal immigration. For too long Congress and Washington have failed to act and we must secure the border now.
My district in the state of Arizona has paid a heavy price for this burden, we know it in our schools, our hospitals, and our law enforcement agencies.
We must move this year with a sense of urgency to pass a comprehensive immigration reform package that's tough, effective, and practical.
We need to increase border security using modern-era technology radar, drones, electronic surveillance. There must be more border patrol agents and more support for those border patrol agents.
We also need tough employer sanctions for those employers who are knowingly hiring people illegally and a guest worker program so that people can come in and work legally, safely, and return back to their home country.
Working to pass such measures will be my priority in this 110th Congress, and I look forward to working with members on both sides of the aisle on this important issue.
I thank you, Mr. Speaker.