SUPPLEMENTAL SPENDING BILL SERIOUSLY FLAWED
Washington, D.C. - This afternoon, the House of Representatives voted on the final version of the Supplemental Iraq War spending bill. Despite being strongly supportive of our fighting men and women, Congressman Sam Farr (CA-17) could not support this bill which failed to provide an exit strategy for troops in Iraq, failed to allow Congressional oversight of war and reconstruction spending, and included the disastrous "REAL ID" Act.
"Our soldiers deserve better than this bill. Though the Administration knew we would need increased funding for the war, they chose to leave this money out of their budget request last year, thus requiring an emergency bill and circumventing the scrutiny of the regular appropriations process. This bill avoids providing an exit strategy, or dealing with the fact that nearly $10 billion already appropriated for critical reconstruction projects still has not been spent," said Farr.
Farr was also disappointed by the inclusion of the controversial REAL ID Act in the spending bill. The REAL ID Act, which passed the House as a stand-alone bill in February but stood little chance of a vote in the Senate, was included after both House and Senate Democrats were shut out of negotiations over immigration provisions.
"That the Republican Leadership chose to use this bill as a vehicle for immigration measures that are divisive and harmful for our country is a disgrace," said Farr. "I and many others in Congress would like to have a rational debate on immigration reform, but that is impossible when the leadership chooses to address this critical issue through amendments to unrelated legislation."
Farr is particularly concerned by provisions that give blanket authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security to expedite construction of border fences. "All Americans should be concerned that the Secretary of Homeland Security has carte blanche authority to waive any and all laws in the name of border security," Farr said.
"Furthermore, the driver's license provisions in this bill, touted in the name of national security, are an unwelcome burden on the states and would not even have stopped the 9/11 hijackers from obtaining driver's licenses. Instead, the authors of this bill are playing on our fears to enact a flawed policy that does not even address the problem it purports to fix. I do not support illegal immigration, but I support a regulated process for immigrants who enter the US legally, pay their taxes, and play by the rules to earn US citizenship. Comprehensive immigration reform is a critical policy debate that should be conducted on its own merits," Farr added.
http://www.farr.house.gov/issues2.cfm?id=10533