[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 15 (Monday, January 30, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   LEGISLATION TO STOP TRUMP ADMINSTRATION FROM DENYING HUMANITARIAN 
RELIEF TO REFUGEES WHO ARE LAWFULLY ENTITLED TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 30, 2017

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I, a senior member of the House 
Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees today am giving the 
following statement in response to the Executive Order issued by the 
President regarding admission of refugees to the United States:
  Today, I am introducing the Universal Security of American Values Act 
of 2017 (USA Values Act of 2017), which declares the Executive Order 
issued by the President on January 27, 2017 to be null and void and of 
no force and legal effect. In addition, USA Values Act prohibits the 
issuance or implementation of any Executive Order that has the effect 
of abridging any of the privileges and immunities of Americans or would 
discriminate against any person seeking entry to the United States on 
the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation and identity, place of 
birth, place of residence, ethnicity, religion, age, or statuses that 
pose no undue health threat to the general population.
  As Americans we are best when we are true to the values we hold dear, 
beginning with fidelity to the Constitution and the laws of the United 
States. The executive order issued last Friday by President Trump is a 
radical departure from these principles and I call upon him to rescind 
this order immediately.
  This Executive Order has affected 67,000 refugees thoroughly vetted 
by an 18 to 24 month screening process, many of whom have been 
separated from their families despite processing the proper paperwork.
  I agree with President Barack Obama's statement that he 
``fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against 
individuals because of their faith and religion.
  Arbitrarily excluding Muslims from our country will not make us safer 
and makes a mockery of our reputation the world's most welcoming 
nation.
  America is a country founded by persons escaping religious 
persecution. We must be ever vigilant to ensure we remain the land 
religious liberty. Innocent lives are being put at risk as a result of 
a political theater and reactionary policies of the current 
Administration without even going through the normal review and 
clearance process.
  `The USA Values Act,' which affirms the nation's core values, 
compliments the `Statute of Liberty Values Act', (SOLVE Act) introduced 
today by my colleague Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren of California and 
sponsored by me and more than 125 Members of the House which bars 
ethnic and religious discrimination against refugees.

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