[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H1203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           IMMIGRATION REFORM

  (Mr. GINGREY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of securing our 
borders and getting legislation to the President's desk that will stop 
the flow of illegal immigrants into our country.
  This week, the Senate is debating immigration reform, and it is 
crucial that they pass legislation that puts enforcement first and says 
``no'' to blanket amnesty.
  As a physician, I know you have to stop a patient's bleeding before 
you can heal the wound. Likewise, we must stop the bleeding of our 
borders before we can address other areas of reform.
  Our southern border is not just bleeding; it is hemorrhaging. 
Thousands of illegal immigrants cross it each month, and our incomplete 
border fence does little to tame the flow. Our border enforcement is 
woefully understaffed, and local law enforcement officials lack the 
jurisdiction to apprehend illegal immigrants within their own 
communities.
  Mr. Speaker, the House passed legislation in December to address each 
of these concerns. Reforming our immigration system requires a 
commitment to security and lawfulness, and our Senate colleagues must 
pledge their resolve to these core principles as they move forward in 
this debate.

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