[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H1294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      AMERICA IS A NATION OF LAWS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, it is often said that America is a nation 
of immigrants, but there is also another important point, not to be 
ignored. America is a nation of laws. We are increasing border 
security, and security is very important in this day and age, in this 
tough world that we live in. We are increasing border security by 
constructing fences, bolstering our border patrols and escalating our 
surveillance capabilities.
  It is of first and most importance to our Nation that we step up and 
halt this mass influx of foreign trespassers known as illegal 
immigrants. To grant amnesty to these trespassers is to say: You 
crossed our border illegally, you broke our laws, and now we are 
rewarding you with U.S. citizenship. Congratulations.
  That is absolutely the wrong way to go. A guest worker program is 
nothing more than amnesty wearing make-up. It is easier to look at, but 
it is still ugly underneath.
  For legal immigrants, we must replace our outdated bureaucratic 
procedures with updated technology. The United States Citizenship and 
Immigration Services currently processes 7 million immigration 
applications in our country every year. They do it using Windows 95 and 
paper printouts. This system is obviously and absolutely flawed. We 
need to fix the process for immigrants to come here legally.
  That is why I introduced the Comprehensive Immigration DATA Act, H.R. 
4412, to modernize the immigration application process by creating a 
Federal, computerized database that more efficiently and effectively 
tracks immigrants applying for visas or for U.S. citizenship.
  It is time that we step up in terms of our governmental policy, to 
make sure our government bureaucrats here in Washington are being 
responsive to our Nation's needs and to be accountable. The best way we 
can do that is by giving them the technology to do their jobs, and that 
is what I am trying to achieve with this bill. It is good in terms of 
policy for legal immigrants. It is the right thing to protect our 
borders, and it is good for our national security.
  Mr. Speaker, it is progress that we need to make as a country.

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