Date: 2014-12-03
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. in this season of reflection for many across the Nation. I will take a moment. first of all. to speak to my constituent Zeph to remind him that I have always supported the human dignity of all persons. and I will never fail to do so. I thank him for his warm embrace of those values and our commitment that we will continue to work together. which brings me to my concern of an ailing American who has continuously been held in Cuba. I ask today on the floor of the House for the leadership of this government to continue to work diligently in the efforts to return Alan Gross to his family. I hope that we will join together. Republicans and Democrats. to work for his release and his return. I would note. Mr. Speaker. that I do not speak of the conditions of such. the reasons for such. just an American who is in failing health whom we need to work to bring home. I think that is the kind of spirit of mercy that I would like to continue to speak of as we try to work our way through the understanding of the Presidents action on the executive order regarding immigration. It follows the directive of the Speaker of the House. who said: A comprehensive approach to immigration reform is long overdue. and I am confident that the President. myself. and others can find the common ground to take care of this issue once and for all. Spoken by Speaker BOEHNER in 2012. Now. as we approach the new year. 2015. 3 years later. there has not been one vote on the floor of the House to bring mercy or relief to those who have been languishing in the shadowsnot opening the borders. Mr. Speaker. but to really provide a framework for those who are here in the United States. almost as if there was a temporary pardon. This is not. as the Judiciary Committee pounded over and over again yesterday. a change in the law. This is a work within the confines of the law under article II executive powers of the President and the language to take care. It is actually a recognition to frame. if you will. the interpretation that is given to laws of the landmight I say. civil laws as well. Because in a civil law. there is punishment. under immigration laws. you can be deported. a civil penalty. So the President has said. in an executive order narrowly confined and reviewed by legal counsel and constitutional experts. supported by 136 scholars. that said that the President is within his rights to stop deportation of store owners and childcare workers and hightech workers. and particularly the parents of children who are. in fact. citizen children of legal permanent residents. It is important for the American people to understand. there is no illegality here. There is no runaway Presidency here. There is an understanding that those who have statusnot immigration status. not pathway to citizenship. but a temporary reprievealmost like a pardon. yet it is more temporary. those children who have been deferred. all he did was to say that it should be 3 years and not 2 years. He has asked that the ICE officers be made. if you will. equal to other Federal law enforcement officers. I celebrate that. That is exciting. Let me quickly say this. Mr. Speaker. I want to travel in the pathway of Reverend Dr. Sharon StanleyRea about immigration reform. Her words are. as I paraphrase them: We should choose our values for people over politics. community safety over partisan strategies. family unity and welcome over fear of foreigners. and humanitarian compassion for children and families above rhetoric and rancor. Let me finally. Mr. Speaker. say that I want to. again. as I move to another topic. thank and compliment the protesters that were peaceful regarding the issue of Ferguson. I ask for people to understand these young people. I went out in Houston in the march and applauded them for the peacefulness of their protests. Now they are asking for us as legislators and policymakers to make a difference in their lives. I publicly say on the floor of the House they will not be forgotten. I want AJ to know. who is an intern in my office from St. Louis. shot in gang fights. that he will not be forgotten. The work that he is doing will be remembered. I ask the National Association of Chiefs of Police to join us in a discussion on how we best walk through these concerns. There are many legislative initiatives. but it has to be a combination of law enforcement. policymakers. civil rights leaders. And to our police unions. let me say there are none of us that have not worked and stood alongside of you. I want to say in closing. Mr. Speaker. on H.R. 5550. that I hope my colleagues will join me in making sure that funding is not used by local communities through their various traffic stops to fund their communities. Lets make a difference on Ferguson. Mr. Speaker.