[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 146 (Wednesday, December 3, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8278-H8279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
                         HUMAN DIGNITY FOR ALL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, in this season of reflection for many 
across the Nation, I will take a moment, first of all, to speak to my 
constituent Zeph to remind him that I have always supported the human 
dignity of all persons, and I will never fail to do so. I thank him for 
his warm embrace of those values and our commitment that we will 
continue to work together, which brings me to my concern of an ailing 
American who has continuously been held in Cuba.
  I ask today on the floor of the House for the leadership of this 
government to continue to work diligently in the efforts to return Alan 
Gross to his family. I hope that we will join together, Republicans and 
Democrats, to work for his release and his return. I would note, Mr. 
Speaker, that I do not speak of the conditions of such, the reasons for 
such; just an American who is in failing health whom we need to work to 
bring home.
  I think that is the kind of spirit of mercy that I would like to 
continue to speak of as we try to work our way through the 
understanding of the President's action on the executive order 
regarding immigration. It follows the directive of the Speaker of the 
House, who said:

       A comprehensive approach to immigration reform is long 
     overdue; and I am confident that the President, myself, and 
     others can find the common ground to take care of this issue 
     once and for all.

  Spoken by Speaker Boehner in 2012.
  Now, as we approach the new year, 2015, 3 years later, there has not 
been one vote on the floor of the House to bring mercy or relief to 
those who have been languishing in the shadows--not opening the 
borders, Mr. Speaker, but to really provide a framework for those who 
are here in the United States, almost as if there was a temporary 
pardon.
  This is not, as the Judiciary Committee pounded over and over again 
yesterday, a change in the law. This is a work within the confines of 
the law under article II executive powers of the President and the 
language to take care. It is actually a recognition to frame, if you 
will, the interpretation that is given to laws of the land--

[[Page H8279]]

might I say, civil laws as well. Because in a civil law, there is 
punishment; under immigration laws, you can be deported, a civil 
penalty.
  So the President has said, in an executive order narrowly confined 
and reviewed by legal counsel and constitutional experts, supported by 
136 scholars, that said that the President is within his rights to stop 
deportation of store owners and childcare workers and high-tech 
workers, and particularly the parents of children who are, in fact, 
citizen children of legal permanent residents.
  It is important for the American people to understand, there is no 
illegality here. There is no runaway Presidency here. There is an 
understanding that those who have status--not immigration status, not 
pathway to citizenship, but a temporary reprieve--almost like a pardon, 
yet it is more temporary, those children who have been deferred, all he 
did was to say that it should be 3 years and not 2 years. He has asked 
that the ICE officers be made, if you will, equal to other Federal law 
enforcement officers. I celebrate that. That is exciting.
  Let me quickly say this, Mr. Speaker. I want to travel in the pathway 
of Reverend Dr. Sharon Stanley-Rea about immigration reform. Her words 
are, as I paraphrase them: We should choose our values for people over 
politics, community safety over partisan strategies, family unity and 
welcome over fear of foreigners, and humanitarian compassion for 
children and families above rhetoric and rancor.
  Let me finally, Mr. Speaker, say that I want to, again, as I move to 
another topic, thank and compliment the protesters that were peaceful 
regarding the issue of Ferguson. I ask for people to understand these 
young people. I went out in Houston in the march and applauded them for 
the peacefulness of their protests. Now they are asking for us as 
legislators and policymakers to make a difference in their lives. I 
publicly say on the floor of the House they will not be forgotten.
  I want AJ to know, who is an intern in my office from St. Louis, shot 
in gang fights, that he will not be forgotten. The work that he is 
doing will be remembered.
  I ask the National Association of Chiefs of Police to join us in a 
discussion on how we best walk through these concerns. There are many 
legislative initiatives, but it has to be a combination of law 
enforcement, policymakers, civil rights leaders.
  And to our police unions, let me say there are none of us that have 
not worked and stood alongside of you.
  I want to say in closing, Mr. Speaker, on H.R. 5550, that I hope my 
colleagues will join me in making sure that funding is not used by 
local communities through their various traffic stops to fund their 
communities.
  Let's make a difference on Ferguson, Mr. Speaker.

                          ____________________