[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13786]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HOUSE REPUBLICANS PREFER STALLING RATHER THAN ACTING ON BORDER SECURITY

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, last week House Republicans held two 
field hearings on the issue of border security, and they plan to hold 
more hearings next month.
  But, Madam Speaker, the time for hearings is over. It is 
unprecedented for House Republicans to be holding hearings on 
legislation that has already passed the House. Instead, it is time for 
the Senate and the House to begin the tough task of reconciling 
differences between the two bills so that we can pass a comprehensive 
border security and immigration bill this year. That is how things in 
Washington are supposed to be done. But this Republican ``Do Nothing'' 
Congress refuses to lead.
  Last week President Bush said negotiations were already under way 
between the two Chambers. And that is simply not true. Negotiations are 
not taking place because House Republicans say they want to wait until 
they have conducted the hearings.
  Now, it is bad enough that Washington Republicans refuse to properly 
fund border security efforts. But now they want to stall any movement 
on legislation that would secure our borders and reform our Nation's 
immigration laws. If comprehensive legislation is not passed this year, 
House Republicans will have nobody to blame but themselves.

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