[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 4 (Friday, January 9, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 EXECUTIVE ORDERS REGARDING IMMIGRATION

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss 
the President's executive orders on immigration, set to take effect in 
mid-2015.
  The Constitution, in article I, section 8, expressly grants the 
legislature the sole authority to establish rules for naturalization. 
Yet on November 20, 2014, the President announced new policies that 
would enable a substantial portion of the unlawfully present alien 
population to obtain relief from removal and work authorization.
  In addition to substantive constitutional separation of power 
concerns, the action raises national security implications and a range 
of other potentially harmful consequences.
  For this reason, in December, the House passed H.R. 83, which imposes 
a February 27 funding sunset for the agencies responsible for carrying 
out the President's orders.
  While this limitation creates an opportunity for the new majority in 
Congress to take action against the President's unilateral actions, my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle should want to protect the rule 
of law, our constitutional separation of powers, and the best interests 
of hardworking Americans. The American people deserve as much.

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