[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 109 (Thursday, July 7, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S4840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SANCTUARY CITY POLICY LEGISLATION

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we all know that so-called sanctuary 
city policies are extreme. They undermine the safety of our 
communities. They can inflict incredible pain on innocent victims and 
their families. President Obama's own Secretary of Homeland Security 
has called such policies ``not acceptable'' and ``counterproductive to 
public safety.''
  Yet Democrats voted to block two proposals that would have worked to 
prevent so-called sanctuary city policies from existing in the first 
place and would have enhanced penalties to keep more criminals off our 
streets when cities refuse to do away with such policies.
  Senator Toomey offered one of them, the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary 
Cities Act, which he described this way:

       My legislation stands for the simple proposition that the 
     safety of the American people matters. The life of Kate 
     Steinle matters. Protecting our neighborhoods from violent 
     criminals and terrorists matters.

  Senator Toomey's bill would have ensured more fairness for citizens 
and governments that do the right thing. It would have supported police 
officers, who risk everything for our safety, and it enjoyed critical 
support from several law enforcement organizations.
  Democrats again chose partisan politics over making a difference for 
the American people.
  I know Senator Toomey won't be deterred. I know he will continue his 
work to do something about this issue. He has been an outspoken leader 
against the dangerous and extreme policies of sanctuary cities for some 
time now. I thank him for his leadership on this issue and his tireless 
work to advance this measure.
  I also recognize Senator Cruz for his legislation, Kate's Law, which 
would have helped protect the public even when jurisdictions continue 
to follow so-called sanctuary city policies by putting more dangerous 
criminals behind bars and off our streets.
  These measures would have sought to prevent the kind of pain that 
Kate's family has been forced to endure, a pain that no family should 
have to experience.

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