[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 19 Introduced in House (IH)]







111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 19

 Expressing the sense of the Congress that State and local governments 
     should be supported for taking actions to discourage illegal 
 immigration and that legislation should be enacted to ease the burden 
        on State and local governments for taking such actions.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 9, 2009

 Mr. Poe of Texas submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the 
    Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Congress that State and local governments 
     should be supported for taking actions to discourage illegal 
 immigration and that legislation should be enacted to ease the burden 
        on State and local governments for taking such actions.

Whereas the Federal Government has failed to take adequate measures to curb 
        illegal immigration;
Whereas the failure by the Federal Government to curb illegal immigration has 
        placed, and continues to place, a substantial burden on State and local 
        government agencies to address illegal immigration;
Whereas many State and local governments have actively worked to discourage 
        illegal immigration and to assist in the enforcement of the immigration 
        laws of the United States;
Whereas in 2008, 1,305 immigration-related bills were introduced and 205 were 
        enacted by State legislatures throughout the country, an increase of 
        over 300 percent of the bills introduced and 400 percent of the bills 
        enacted since 2005;
Whereas such actions and assistance have come at great expense to State and 
        local governments;
Whereas numerous States governments, including those in Arizona, California, 
        Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia, have considered 
        legislation or placed initiatives and referendums on the ballot to 
        enhance the ability of State and local agencies to discourage illegal 
        immigration and to ease the burden placed on the States;
Whereas numerous local governments, including those in Farmers Branch, Texas, 
        Hazelton, Pennsylvania, Nashville, Tennessee, Valley Park, Missouri, 
        Escondido, California, Prince William County, Virginia, and Suffolk 
        County, New York, have introduced ordinances to enhance the ability of 
        local governments to discourage illegal immigration and to ease the 
        burden placed on local governments; and
Whereas State and local governments continue to be confronted with the issue of 
        illegal immigration without the prospect of immediate relief from the 
        Federal Government: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) State and local governments should be supported for 
        taking actions to discourage illegal immigration;
            (2) current laws governing enforcement of the immigration 
        laws of the United States should be enforced to the highest 
        extent of the law; and
            (3) legislation to enhance border security and the 
        enforcement of immigration laws should be passed quickly in 
        order to ease the burden on State and local governments.
                                 <all>