MR. SPEAKER:

I RISE IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD BAN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

MR. SPEAKER, THE MEASURE BEFORE US IS TREMENDOUSLY UNJUST, CLEARLY UNFAIR, AND AN INSULT TO THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, OVER 4% OF THIS COUNTRY'S POPULATION, WHO ARE LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF OUR GREAT NATION.

LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY WITHIN THE LAW TO LEGITIMIZE THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS IN AMERICA. THEY ARE HARD-WORKING, LAW-ABIDING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FULFILLING THEIR REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY.

AS WITH U.S. CITIZENS, LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS ARE STAKEHOLDERS WHO HOLD RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE WELL-BEING AND FUTURE OF THIS GREAT NATION; AND, THEY HAVE FULFILLED THEIR OBLIGATIONS MAGNIFICENTLY.

LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS PAY U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX ON THEIR INCOME FROM WHEREVER DERIVED AROUND THE WORLD.

LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO REGISTER FOR THE MILITARY DRAFT, AND NEARLY 20,000 SERVE VOLUNTARILY IN AMERICA'S ARMED FORCES. THE RECORD REVEALS NONE HAVE FOUGHT HARDER TO PROTECT AMERICA'S FREEDOM. IN FACT, ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS HAS BEEN A LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT OR NATURALIZED AMERICAN.

THE SUPREME COURT HAS ALREADY RECOGNIZED THAT THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF OUR CONSTITUTION PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF LEGAL IMMIGRANTS AS WELL AS CITIZENS. CLEARLY, THE RIGHT TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT ONE'S CANDIDATE OR POLITICAL PARTY OF CHOICE IS A FORM OF SPEECH AND ASSOCIATION THAT IS PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

ALREADY, U.S. LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS CANNOT VOTE IN ELECTING THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT THAT THEY SUPPORT WITH TAXES AND FIGHT OVERSEAS TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT.

NOW, THE MEASURE BEFORE US SEEKS TO SILENCE THE POLITICAL VOICE OF LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS AND TAKE AWAY THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWPOINT THROUGH POLITICAL SUPPORT OF THOSE THEY BELIEVE.

MR. SPEAKER, THE LEGISLATION BEFORE US IS THE UGLY ANTITHESIS OF WHAT AMERICA AND HER DEMOCRATIC IDEALS HAVE ALWAYS STOOD FOR.

LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF THE U.S., LIKE CITIZENS, HAVE AN IMPORTANT STAKE IN THE WELL-BEING OF AMERICA AND THEY HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO VOICE THEIR SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATES WHOM THEY BELIEVE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A BETTER AMERICA FOR THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN TOMORROW.

I STRONGLY URGE OUR COLLEAGUES TO OPPOSE THE DANGEROUS MEASURE BEFORE US.