[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16548-16549]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           THE SPEAKER'S RACE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Brooks) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, between 2000 and 2014, in the 16 
to 65 age bracket, although the American economy created 5.6 million 
net new jobs, American-born citizens lost 127,000 jobs. All job gains 
in America--and more--went to people born in foreign countries.
  In 2012, 51 percent of households headed by immigrants relied on 
welfare compared to 30 percent of households headed by someone born in 
America, thus driving up America's deficits and driving down America's 
ability to pay for safety nets for Americans.
  This week I vote on Paul Ryan's bid for House Speaker. While Paul 
Ryan has excellent communication skills, is charismatic, understands 
the economic risk of out-of-control deficits, and the like, Paul Ryan 
and I have a major disagreement on border security.
  Last week, on October 22, Paul Ryan, I, and others met about his 
candidacy. Border security was discussed. Thereafter, I hand-delivered 
to Paul Ryan, on the House floor, at, roughly, 4 p.m., a letter that 
states:
  ``Paul: Struggling American families have lost more than 8 million 
job opportunities to illegal aliens. All lower and middle income 
American workers have suffered from suppressed wages caused by the 
surge in both illegal alien and lawful immigrant labor supply.
  ``Your past record and current stance on immigration conflicts with 
the values of the Americans I represent and causes great concern to me 
and the Americans I represent.
  ``Yesterday during discussions about the Speaker race, you made two 
representations about immigration that stood out. They are:
  ``1. It is unwise or unproductive to bring up any immigration 
legislation so long as Barack Obama is President.
  ``2. As Speaker, you will not allow any immigration bill to reach the 
House Floor for a vote unless the immigration bill is `supported by a 
majority of the majority' of Republican House Members.
  ``Although you talk faster than I can write your words down, I 
believe the above statements properly reflect what you said. I send 
this letter to confirm that I accurately portray your remarks and that 
I may rely on them when the House Floor Vote for Speaker occurs next 
week.
  ``If my portrayal of your words errs in any respect, please deliver 
to me (before the GOP Conference meeting next week in which we are to 
conduct Speaker elections) a written communication correcting my 
errors.
  ``If I do not receive such a communication from you, then I will 
infer that you concur that my portrayal of your remarks is accurate and 
that I, and the rest of the GOP Conference, and the American people, 
may rely on your words as I have written them.
  ``I need your assurance that you will not use the Speaker's position 
to advance your immigration policies, except when in accord with the 
two above statements, because there is a huge gap between your 
immigration position and the wishes of the American citizens I 
represent. Your words yesterday constitute the needed assurance.
  ``If your assurances as I have portrayed them are accurate, then I am 
much more comfortable voting for you for Speaker on the House Floor 
(and will do so, absent something startling coming to my attention 
between now and the election, which I don't anticipate).
  ``If, however, you would use the Speaker's chair to advance an 
immigration belief system that is unacceptable to the Americans I 
represent, it will be very difficult for me to vote for you for Speaker 
on the House Floor.
  ``To be clear, I intend to publicly share this letter and your 
responding letter, if any, to help explain to my constituents why I 
voted as I did on the House Floor in the Speaker's election.
  ``Thank you for considering the contents of this letter.''
  At roughly 5:20 p.m., Paul Ryan called me and stated that my letter 
accurately portrayed his immigration representations. Paul Ryan 
confirmed that he meant what he said and would keep his word.
  Based on Paul Ryan's representations and my trust that Paul Ryan is a 
man of his word, I will vote for Paul Ryan for House Speaker on the 
House floor if he is the Republican nominee.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit this letter for the Record.

                                    Congress of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                 Washington, DC, October 22, 2015.
     Hand-delivered on House Floor to Paul Ryan at approx. 4 p.m., 
         10/22/15
     Paul Ryan called Mo and confirmed accuracy of letter via 
         phone at 5:20 p.m. (during staff meeting)
     Re: Immigration Positions & Speaker Race.

     Hon. Paul Ryan,
     Chairman, Ways and Means Committee.
       Paul: Struggling American families have lost more than 8 
     million job opportunities to illegal aliens. All lower and 
     middle income American workers have suffered from suppressed 
     wages caused by the surge in both illegal alien and lawful 
     immigrant labor supply.
       Your past record and current stance on immigration 
     conflicts with the values of the Americans I represent and 
     causes great concern to me and the Americans I represent.
       Yesterday during discussions about the Speaker race, you 
     made two representations about immigration that stood out. 
     They are:
       1. It is unwise or unproductive to bring up any immigration 
     legislation so long as Barack Obama is President.
       2. As Speaker, you will not allow any immigration bill to 
     reach the House Floor for a vote unless the immigration bill 
     is ``supported by a majority of the majority'' of Republican 
     House Members.
       Although you talk faster than I can write your words down, 
     I believe the above statements properly reflect what you 
     said. I send this letter to confirm that I accurately portray 
     your remarks and that I may rely on them when the House Floor 
     Vote for Speaker occurs next week.
       If my portrayal of your words errs in any respect, please 
     deliver to me (before the GOP Conference meeting next week in 
     which we are to conduct Speaker elections) a written 
     communication correcting my errors.
       If I do not receive such a communication from you, then I 
     will infer that you concur

[[Page 16549]]

     that my portrayal of your remarks is accurate and that I, and 
     the rest of the GOP Conference, and the American people, may 
     rely on your words as I have written them.
       I need your assurance that you will not use the Speaker's 
     position to advance your immigration policies, except when in 
     accord with the two above statements, because there is a huge 
     gap between your immigration position and the wishes of the 
     American citizens I represent. Your words yesterday 
     constitute the needed assurance.
       If your assurances as I have portrayed them are accurate, 
     then I am much more comfortable voting for you for Speaker on 
     the House Floor (and will do so, absence something startling 
     coming to my attention between now and the election, which I 
     don't anticipate).
       If, however, you would use the Speaker's chair to advance 
     an immigration belief system that is unacceptable to the 
     Americans I represent, it will be very difficult for me to 
     vote for you for Speaker on the House Floor.
       To be clear, I intend to publicly share this letter and 
     your responding letter, if any, to help explain to my 
     constituents why I voted as I did on the House Floor in the 
     Speaker's election.
       Thank you for considering the contents of this letter.
           Sincerely,
                                     Morris J. ``Mo'' Brooks, Jr.,
     M.C., AL-5.

                          ____________________