Published: 03-13-08
Washington DC – House Conference Secretary John Carter (R-TX) today backed a discharge petition introduced by Rep. Thelma Drake (R-VA) that would force a vote on the bipartisan border enforcement bill called the Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act. Carter a co-sponsor of the bill made the following statement:
“Securing our borders is the backbone of our national security and something I have dedicated my years in Congress to protecting but unfortunately the Democratic Leadership doesn’t seem to think it is a priority. Time and time again they have voted to give taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal immigrants and cut funding for the border fence. Now they are giving a red light to an uncontroversial bipartisan bill that would secure our borders and enforce our laws. The American people expect Congress to work together to secure the border and put a halt to the wave of illegal immigrants who cross our borders.
“Republicans introduced this discharge petition in order to force this critical security bill to the House floor for a vote. I hope the Democrats who sponsored the SAVE Act will join us in our fight for a secure border.
“This bill is a good step towards reforming our immigration process. Last year I introduced the Secure America For Everyone (SAFE) Act which consists of four straightforward bills addressing law enforcement border security and a worker ID system ultimately leading to a practical immigration process that will make it easier to come into this country legally and harder to come illegally. Our country was founded on the principles of freedom and opportunity for all citizens. I stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to create a system that makes sense.”
Note: The SAVE Act which is sponsored by Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) and has 141 co-sponsors including 93 Republicans and 48 Democrats provides for the following:
• An increase of border patrol agents by 8000 over the next five years; an additional 1150 ICE agents 140 Criminal Alien Program officers and 250 state and local law enforcement for immigration support.
• A strengthening of alien smuggling penalties.
• Expedited removal of and increased detention facilities for illegal aliens.
• Authority for additional border infrastructure and aerial vehicles/surveillance equipment.
• Strengthened Employer Enforcement: (1) mandates usage of the E-Verify system which allows employers to make an efficient and accurate check of a potential hire’s employment eligibility; (2) requires employer/employee notification of Social Security number mismatches and multiple uses; (3) requires establishment of electronic birth and death registration databases; (4) penalizes specified employers for failure to correct information returns; and (5) prohibits employers from deducting from gross income wages paid to unauthorized aliens.
Note: A discharge petition is a petition filed with the clerk on a specific motion (usually a bill) that the leadership won’t bring to the floor for a vote. When that petition receives 218 signatures then the bill is brought to the floor against the opposition of the leadership because more than half of the members of the house have signed on to move it forward.
