[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 81 (Monday, June 10, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 5, 2013

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2217) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. MARKEY. Madam Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to 
Representative King's amendment offered last week to the Homeland 
Security Appropriations Act of 2014, H.R. 2217. This amendment would 
restrict the use of funds to finalize, implement, enforce or administer 
the Memo authorizing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or Dream 
Act-eligible youth.
  This amendment punishes young individuals who are Americans in every 
way but on a piece of paper. Brought to this country through no fault 
of their own, these students are striving to educate themselves and 
contribute to the country that they know as home. Targeting them with 
limited immigration enforcement funding is unwise, thoughtless and just 
plain wrong.
  Just two months after the Marathon bombings, we should have voted 
last week on a straightforward bill that funded the department of 
Homeland Security, a bill that assisted the agencies that performed so 
bravely on that tragic day. It is an important bill. It keeps us safe. 
The legislation also included my bipartisan amendment to prevent knives 
from being brought onto planes for the first time since September 11, 
2001.
  However, by passing this amendment targeted at the DREAMers of our 
country, Republicans attacked everything our country stands for as a 
beacon of hope for a better life. That is why I voted against this 
amendment. This language should be stripped from the final version of 
the bill.
  We need to move forward on comprehensive immigration reform. That is 
why I will keep up that fight for a better life for immigrants and for 
all Americans.

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