[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E922]]
 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1268, EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPRPRIATIONS 
ACT FOR DEFENSE, THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, AND TSUNAMI RELIEF ACT, 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2005

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I voted in support of the Fiscal Year 
2005 Iraq and Tsunami Relief Supplemental Conference Report. This 
decision was very difficult for me. I voted for this legislation 
because it includes vital equipment and services that our troops 
desperately need. The bill also provides funding for needed vehicle 
armor and personal protection for our courageous troops and increases 
financial support to families of fallen heroes. While I strongly oppose 
the war in Iraq, I believe it is our government's duty to protect our 
troops which this Congress sent into the line of fire, as well as their 
families.
  While I voted for this measure, I strongly oppose the REAL ID 
provisions in it. REAL ID gives blanket authority to the United States 
Department of Homeland Security to build any roads or barriers at any 
time and at any border without having to answer to State or Federal 
authorities and laws. Its driver's license provisions overturn States' 
rights and impose a massive unfunded mandate on States, while doing 
nothing to address our outdated immigration system.
  I am very disappointed that the REAL ID provision was included in a 
bill to fund support for our military forces and their families and 
relief for tsunami victims. While I acknowledge that our immigration 
system is broken, this legislation is not the right vehicle to do it 
and REAL ID is not the right approach to fix it. I support 
comprehensive immigration reform, not attempts by the Republican 
majority in Congress and President Bush to give the American people a 
false sense of security at the cost of our civil liberties and values. 
That is why I urged conferees on the Supplemental bill to remove these 
harmful provisions from the conference report. Reform of our complex 
and outdated immigration system deserves a separate and extensive 
dialogue, and I will continue to fight for immigration policy which 
both protects our homeland and respects the millions of hard-working 
immigrants in this Nation.
  While I remain deeply opposed to the REAL ID and its inclusion in 
this conference report, I do not believe withholding funds from our 
dedicated military and tsunami victims is right. There should be no 
question that I remain very concerned about the Bush Administration's 
lack of a clear exit strategy in Iraq. However, I am committed to our 
troops, and I will continue to fight for a clear plan so they can be 
reunited with their families and democracy can thrive in an Iraq run by 
Iraqis.

                          ____________________