Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014

Floor Speech

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Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to urge my
colleagues to affirm the best of our traditions as a nation, rather
than our worst partisan inclinations and oppose H.R. 5759, the
Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014. After
several years of delay and obstruction on the matter of comprehensive
immigration reform, President Obama acted to protect American immigrant
families from the threat of forcible separation under immigration laws
that are inadequate in the Twenty-First Century, by permitting parents
living in the United States whose children are citizens or legal
permanent residents to avoid deportation and receive authorization to
work.

This legislation, H.R. 5759, exists only to allow the Republican-
controlled House of Representatives to perpetuate the status quo that
has done greater harm to immigrants who have been a part of our
communities and criticize President Obama and the families and children
he is seeking to protect. The enactment of this legislation would
repudiate our commitment to the value of families.

H.R. 5759 would nullify and block implementation of the President's
executive actions. If indeed the House majority were to act on the
bipartisan Senate immigration reform bill. There would have been no
need for the President to Act through his Executive Authority. We, in
Congress, must legislate actually solutions. Congress has an obligation
to pass commonsense immigration reform that offers meaningful solutions
to the broken system.

It is also important to note that every president during the past 50
years has taken executive action on immigration and granted temporary
immigration relief. Like his predecessors, this president has the legal
authority to take these actions under the Constitution and the
Immigration and Nationality Act. Unfortunately, the partisan divide in
our nation's capital has created this legislation of discord.

The constituents of my district and across the United States
understand that families are the foundation of our civil society. They
want reform of our immigration laws that protects the interests of
American immigrant families and supports the development of our nation
and its people.

President Obama's executive action would provide protection to
millions of immigrants, keep families together and expand our economy.
I urge the rejection of this legislation. H.R. 5759 fails to uphold the
ideals on which this nation was established. I urge the defeat of this
bill.

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