Statement by House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) on CBO Report Putting Cost of Reid-Kennedy Immigration Bill at $127 Billion
Statement by House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) on CBO Report Putting Cost of Reid-Kennedy Immigration Bill at $127 Billion
WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement regarding a newly released report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) that estimates the Reid-Kennedy immigration bill passed by the Senate in May would increase government spending by as much as $127 billion over the next decade:
"When the House began hearings in July to study the massive Reid-Kennedy immigration bill instead of rushing into a negotiating conference with the Senate, we said it was important to examine Reid-Kennedy and learn as much as possible about the impact it would have on our country. The newly-released report by the CBO further validates the tough oversight the House has conducted with respect to Reid-Kennedy since it was passed. I want to commend all of the committee chairmen and committee members who have taken part or will take part in these critically important hearings this summer.
"The House hearings have revealed that the Reid-Kennedy bill includes a gaping loophole that could be exploited by terrorists seeking to do harm on American soil, depriving homeland security forces of critical law enforcement tools at a time when, as the thwarted terror attacks in Britain showed, such tools are needed more than ever.
"Our hearings have also revealed that Reid-Kennedy would repeat some of the mistakes made by the 1986 law that gave amnesty to illegal immigrants and significantly increased illegal immigration while masquerading as a border security measure. With the release of the new CBO report, we now know these repeated mistakes would also come with a staggering price tag for American taxpayers who are already struggling with the rising cost of living.
"Congress must send a bill to the President's desk as soon as possible that will strengthen the security of our borders and step up enforcement of our immigration laws. This is what House Republicans have passed. And this is what the American people want and demand from their elected leaders."
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