House Passes Legislation to Control the Border, Prevent Illegal Immigration
On December 16, 2005, the full United States House of Representatives approved the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act (H.R. 4437) by a vote of 239 to 182. This comprehensive legislation is aimed at ensuring a safe and secure border and preventing illegal immigration.
Specifically, H.R. 4437 would require the Department of Homeland Security to establish "operational control" over the U.S. border through security fences, the increased deployment of customs and border patrol agents, and technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based sensors, satellites, radar coverage, and cameras. H.R. 4437 would also prohibit the "catch and release" of most illegal immigrants. Last year alone, about 120,000 illegal immigrants were caught by the Border Patrol but released into the United States pending a hearing. H.R. 4437 would require that such immigrants instead be detained until they are either deported or admitted legally.
Other provisions of H.R. 4437 would require employers to use an employment eligibility verification system to ensure new hires and existing employees are legally present in the United States. Under the verification system, an employer would use a 1-800 number or similar toll-free electronic system to verify an employee's legal status. Yet other provisions of H.R. 4437 would increase fines for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants as well as penalties for a range of other immigration-related offenses.
Congressman Todd Platts voted with the majority of his colleagues to pass this legislation. H.R. 4437 is now pending in the Senate.
Representatives Kirk, Platts Introduce Congressional Integrity Act
On December 14, 2005, Representatives Mark Kirk (Il.) and Todd Platts (Pa.) introduced the Congressional Integrity and Pension Forfeiture Act (H.R. 4535), which would deny a congressional pension to any Member of Congress convicted for a range of crimes relating to their public duties, including bribery, fraud, and tax evasion. Under current law, a Member of Congress can still collect their pension despite such convictions.
"As Members of Congress, we pledge to defend the Constitution and uphold the laws of the United States. We are elected to serve the public's trust," Representatives Kirk and Platts wrote in a letter to all of their colleagues in the House soliciting their co-sponsorship of the legislation. "A breach of law by a Member of Congress is a very serious offense that should have very serious consequences. Taxpayers should not pay for the retirement benefits of a Member of Congress convicted of a felony."
H.R. 4535 was referred to the Committees on House Administration and Government Reform. Currently, a total of 34 Members of the House has chosen to cosponsor the bill. Similar legislation was passed by the House of Representatives by an overwhelming vote of 391-32 in 1996, but the Senate did not act on that measure.
Web Page Highlights (www.house.gov/platts)
Platts Outlines Principles for Lobbying Reform
Representative Todd Platts recently wrote a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Congressman David Drier, chairman of the House Rules Committee, where he outlined a lobbying reform proposal which would bolster government accountability and establish a culture of personal responsibility.
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/lobbyreform.html)
Representative Platts Applauds Executive Order Streamlining the Freedom of Information Act
On December 14, 2005, Representative Todd Platts joined President George W. Bush as he signed an Executive Order aimed at improving the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Representative Platts has been working with the Administration to improve the overall transparency of the FOIA process since holding an oversight hearing on FOIA in May 2005.
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/FOIA.html)
The Month in Review
The following is a list of some additional key votes taken by the United States House of Representatives during the month of December of 2005:
Gulf Opportunity Zone Act (H.R. 4440)
The House voted 415-4 to pass legislation providing $8 billion in tax incentives that would encourage investments in the infrastructure and low-income housing of Gulf Coast areas hit by Hurricane Katrina. The bill prohibits any of the tax incentives from going towards gambling establishments. Congressman Platts voted in favor of H.R. 4440. The Senate subsequently passed the measure without objection, and President George W. Bush signed the measure into law on December 22, 2005.
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