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Washington D.C.- The U.S. Senate today failed to end debate, by a vote of 46-53, to provide the McCain-Kennedy immigration bill with an up-or-down vote, resulting in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) pulling the bill from the Floor. Members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) and House conservatives cite their pressure to prevent the flawed product – developed through a flawed process – from moving forward.
“From the outset, the Senate immigration bill was bad public policy, and over the course of debate, Senators failed to mold it into a bill that we could accept,” said Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), a member of the RSC. “It was drafted by a select group of Senators and Cabinet officials with no public scrutiny, and the Senate then failed to correct its most egregious elements, including creating a pathway to citizenship for convicted felons.
“We believe that House Republicans made their voices heard, and that our efforts impacted the outcome of the vote in the Senate.”
On Tuesday, the House Republican Conference, by a vote of 114 to 23, passed a resolution introduced by Hoekstra that expressed opposition to the Senate immigration bill.
“Because it is deeply flawed and the federal government is not capable of administering it, there is in fact overwhelming opposition amongst Republican members of the U.S. House to the Senate immigration bill,” said Congressman. John Shadegg (R-AZ), former Chairman of the RSC.
House conservatives continue to advocate for a bill drafted through an open process with public hearings, and that prioritizes controlling the border and creating a legal identification process.
“In order to maintain our security and provide continued economic prosperity for all Americans, we must protect our borders, enforce our laws and stop rewarding illegal immigration. For decades our government has turned a blind eye to the border, allowing millions to enter this country illegally. It is essential that we uphold the law and preserve the integrity of our borders,” said Republican Study Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling.
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