[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 152 (Friday, December 12, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       PREVENTING EXECUTIVE OVERREACH ON IMMIGRATION ACT OF 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. YVETTE D. CLARKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 4, 2014

  Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to urge my 
colleagues to affirm the best of our traditions as a nation, rather 
than our worst partisan inclinations and oppose H.R. 5759, the 
Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014. After 
several years of delay and obstruction on the matter of comprehensive 
immigration reform, President Obama acted to protect American immigrant 
families from the threat of forcible separation under immigration laws 
that are inadequate in the Twenty-First Century, by permitting parents 
living in the United States whose children are citizens or legal 
permanent residents to avoid deportation and receive authorization to 
work.
  This legislation, H.R. 5759, exists only to allow the Republican-
controlled House of Representatives to perpetuate the status quo that 
has done greater harm to immigrants who have been a part of our 
communities and criticize President Obama and the families and children 
he is seeking to protect. The enactment of this legislation would 
repudiate our commitment to the value of families.
  H.R. 5759 would nullify and block implementation of the President's 
executive actions. If indeed the House majority were to act on the 
bipartisan Senate immigration reform bill. There would have been no 
need for the President to Act through his Executive Authority. We, in 
Congress, must legislate actually solutions. Congress has an obligation 
to pass commonsense immigration reform that offers meaningful solutions 
to the broken system.
  It is also important to note that every president during the past 50 
years has taken executive action on immigration and granted temporary 
immigration relief. Like his predecessors, this president has the legal 
authority to take these actions under the Constitution and the 
Immigration and Nationality Act. Unfortunately, the partisan divide in 
our nation's capital has created this legislation of discord.
  The constituents of my district and across the United States 
understand that families are the foundation of our civil society. They 
want reform of our immigration laws that protects the interests of 
American immigrant families and supports the development of our nation 
and its people.
  President Obama's executive action would provide protection to 
millions of immigrants, keep families together and expand our economy. 
I urge the rejection of this legislation. H.R. 5759 fails to uphold the 
ideals on which this nation was established. I urge the defeat of this 
bill.

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