Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) spoke on the House floor Wednesday morning in opposition to the NO BAN Act, reckless legislation designed to undermine the President's authority to defend national security.
If enacted, the dangerous legislation would strip President Trump's ability to block travel into the United States in the case of threats to our country's safety. Watch Congressman Gooden's full speech below:
Click here to view the remarks.
GOODEN: "Thank you, Madame Speaker. Thank you, Congressman Biggs, I rise today in opposition to the NO BAN Act, which would tie the hands of our executive branch, restricting our ability to act quickly and decisively to defend America from our enemies.
The President must have authority to act when our national security is at risk. When a situation demands we halt travel into our country, whether that be to protect us from a pandemic or other national security issue, the President must have the power to do so.
Congress gave the President that authority when we passed the Immigration and Nationality Act decades ago. In the years since, our courts have affirmed that authority on numerous occasions.
I’d like to read an excerpt from a 1986 decision out of the DC Circuit, in which the Court stated that the very authority we are debating today ensures that “the Executive would not be helpless in the face of such a threat” of an alien who posed a danger to the United States.
Furthermore, the Court stated that, “the President’s sweeping proclamation power thus provides a safeguard against the danger posed” to our national security.
What far-right, extremist, ultra-conservative judge wrote those words? No other than Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
The safety and security of the American people should not be a partisan issue – it ought to be everyone’s highest priority. We should not jeopardize the well-being of our citizens for the sake of political victories.
If enacted, the No BAN Act would put American lives and our country’s national security at risk. I will be opposing this dangerous policy and I urge my colleagues to oppose it as well."
The President must have authority to act when our national security is at risk. When a situation demands we halt travel into our country, whether that be to protect us from a pandemic or other national security issue, the President must have the power to do so.
Congress gave the President that authority when we passed the Immigration and Nationality Act decades ago. In the years since, our courts have affirmed that authority on numerous occasions.
I’d like to read an excerpt from a 1986 decision out of the DC Circuit, in which the Court stated that the very authority we are debating today ensures that “the Executive would not be helpless in the face of such a threat” of an alien who posed a danger to the United States.
Furthermore, the Court stated that, “the President’s sweeping proclamation power thus provides a safeguard against the danger posed” to our national security.
What far-right, extremist, ultra-conservative judge wrote those words? No other than Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
The safety and security of the American people should not be a partisan issue – it ought to be everyone’s highest priority. We should not jeopardize the well-being of our citizens for the sake of political victories.
If enacted, the No BAN Act would put American lives and our country’s national security at risk. I will be opposing this dangerous policy and I urge my colleagues to oppose it as well."
