[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 134 (Wednesday, October 2, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H6106-H6107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     BIPARTISAN IMMIGRATION REFORM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, we've all heard that later today an 
immigration bill will be introduced in the House of Representatives in 
order to keep the issue moving forward.
  I plan to sign on to that bill. As I understand it, it will combine 
elements of the Senate's bipartisan compromise bill with a bipartisan 
House border security bill. I am going to sign on because I want to 
stand with 200 of my Democratic colleagues and assert that the 
Democratic Party is ready to move forward on immigration reform. The 
bill that Democrats will put forward is not a perfect bill. It is the 
product of negotiations, compromise, and bipartisanship.
  Having spent many long hours working with Ted Kennedy, John McCain, 
Jim Kolbe, and Jeff Flake on bipartisan bills in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 
2007, I know that you never get everything you want when you engage in 
genuine bipartisan efforts; but these days, with our sharply divided 
politics, bipartisanship is the only way you get anything done. The 
American people are sick of the U.S. Congress because we are totally 
divided and can't seem to come together, even to keep our government 
open.
  Yesterday, Puerto Rican Korea war veterans and Mississippi and Iowa 
veterans of World War II had to break down barricades to visit the 
monuments on The National Mall that celebrate their sacrifice and 
honor. It should have never had to come to this.
  And on immigration, I still think we have a chance to work together 
and get something done. It's really rare that the AFL-CIO and the U.S. 
Chamber of Commerce agree on anything. But you know what? They came to 
agreement to move immigration reform forward. The largest growers 
actually worked out an agreement to move forward on immigration reform 
with the union founded by Cesar Chavez that's been fighting for them 
for 40 years.
  The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal editorial pages 
represent different ends of the political spectrum, but their 
editorials calling for Congress to address immigration reform are so 
similar, they could practically be accused of plagiarism.

                              {time}  1015

  And I've talked with many of my Republican colleagues. They too 
understand that our current legal immigration system is broken. Many of 
them understand that creating ways for people to come legally is 
necessary to spark our economy, reunite families and maintain our 
values in the United States.
  They understand that the path to law and order is to have a 
functioning, legal immigration system that allows people to come with a 
visa and not a

[[Page H6107]]

smuggler. Many of my Republican colleagues understand that we cannot 
secure the border unless we secure and combine border security with a 
legal avenue for people to come here.
  And they understand that we cannot establish law and order without 
getting the millions of people here into the system, on the books, 
paying taxes, and legitimize their stay in the United States, including 
citizenship for those who choose to embrace this country, just as every 
wave of previous immigrants have had that choice.
  Many of my Republican colleagues realize that the best way, 
politically and practically, to achieve a full implementation of things 
like E-Verify and an entry/exit visa system, the only way to 
effectively enforce our law is to allow for legal immigration. We can 
and must do the legalization, the border security, and all of the 
enforcement together.
  With the introduction of a bill, you will see the unity and 
commitment of my party, the Democratic Party. But I believe it is only 
after we emerge from this very dark tunnel of partisanship and budget 
bitterness that we can find a way for leaders in both parties to move 
forward, work together and get the Speaker to give us a vote.
  But the clock is ticking. Two million people will have been deported 
by this administration, a Democratic administration, by President 
Barack Obama, sometime in October. Believe me, the deportation machine 
does not pause for a government shutdown.
  This Saturday, October 5, in 163 cities there will be marches and 
demonstrations and activities to push this Congress, and especially the 
Republican leadership, to allow a vote on immigration reform.
  I will march in Chicago, meet with evangelical leaders, and join 
canvassers fanning out across congressional districts on Saturday.
  And then, on Tuesday, October 8, I invite all my colleagues to join 
the tens of thousands of Americans, immigrants, supporters, citizens, 
for a concert and a rally to make sure this Chamber knows the truth, 
and that is that the persistent and consistent pressure to pass an 
immigration bill in red States, blue States, purple States has not 
subsided and is stronger than ever.
  I ask you all to come and join me and our immigrant community from 
across this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I will show you the faces of families who want this 
Congress to put aside our party differences and to act for the families 
of America, for the millions of American citizens that need a fair and 
just immigration system.
  Come and join us in your city on October 5 and, if not, come and join 
us here in the Capitol of the United States on October 8. The people 
will be speaking.

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