[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 18109]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
       PRESIDENTIAL CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENFORCE LAWS

  (Mr. HOLDING asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, when the President picks and chooses which 
laws to enforce, it undermines the foundations of our democracy.
  Yesterday, in the House Judiciary Committee, we held a hearing to 
examine the President's constitutional responsibility to ``faithfully 
execute'' the law. Our Founding Fathers formed the structure of our 
government specifically so that none of the three branches could become 
too powerful. If we ignore our system of checks and balances, our 
government will become unstable and chaotic.
  Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, this President and his administration 
have abused their executive power. President Obama continues to violate 
his constitutional duty to enforce the laws and instead chooses when, 
where, and which laws to enforce. He has enforced laws and policies 
based on preferences, like making changes to our immigration system, 
our criminal code, and his signature health care law.
  Mr. Speaker, neither this President, nor any President, should grant 
themselves extra-constitutional authority to change laws they don't 
like. If the President himself does not follow the law, it sets a 
dangerous example.

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