Gabrielle Giffords

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today once again to state my strong support for comprehensive immigration reform. Last week, Federal agents from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raided businesses in my district in southern Arizona because employers were suspected of employing illegal immigrants. For years, we have known that employers in Arizona and across the country have been breaking the law by illegally employing undocumented workers. Let me be clear: any company that knowingly hires illegal immigrants should be prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. I recognize the humanitarian concerns that are involved when raids on businesses occur, especially regarding families. The problems of immigration are extensive. These raids make clear that in my district in Arizona we continue to bear the brunt of a national crisis. Approximately 4,000 illegal immigrants pass into Arizona each and every day. That is unacceptable. We need to rise to the challenge and address a national crisis. We need to do it now. Democrats and Republicans working together must pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for fully funding the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, also known as SCAAP, at its authorized level for fiscal year 2008 at $950 million. This program, which reimburses State and local governments for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants, is vital to border States such as Arizona, where we disproportionately pay a higher amount than our fair share of incarceration. Underfunding SCAAP places a significant cost burden on our local law enforcement, stretching their resources and hampering their ability to protect our communities. All of the counties in my district, Pima, Cochise, Pinal and Santa Cruz, are reimbursed less than 10 percent of the amount of incarcerating illegal immigrants. This places an unfair cost burden on our local communities. Given the importance of homeland security and law enforcement, it is absolutely essential that we receive full funding for SCAAP. I believe that Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle would agree that reimbursement should be a Federal priority.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express a measured degree of optimism that Congress will pass a comprehensive immigration reform package this year. A Senate bill is likely to be unveiled as early as next week, and I would hope that the House will follow soon after with our version. To be effective, this legislation must include provisions for increased border security, more support for border patrol agents, sanctions for employers that knowingly hire illegal immigrants, compensation for border communities, and a guest worker program. In my district in Southern Arizona, the need for reform is critical. In 2006, 4,000 illegal immigrants a day crossed the border into Arizona. Our schools, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed. Our environment and homeland security are threatened. We must work across party lines to pass comprehensive immigration reform so we can focus our attention on those crossing the border who wish to do America harm: drug smugglers, human smugglers, and terrorists. I also want to thank the outgoing chief of the Tucson sector border patrol, Michael Nicley, for his service and hard work. All of us in Southern Arizona appreciate his dedication. I welcome Robert Gilbert as the new chief, and I look forward to working closely with him on this important issue.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for some provisions of President Bush's FY08 budget request regarding illegal immigration. His plan includes hiring 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, improving technology and infrastructure along the border, and helping end the failed ``catch and release'' policy. The President's proposal also offers assistance to State and local law enforcement agencies. My district in Southern Arizona continues to bear the burden of our Nation's failed immigration policy, especially in our schools, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies. The President's ideas will, to some degree, help alleviate this crisis. However, these policies must be a part of a comprehensive immigration reform plan to effectively secure the border and stop illegal immigration. We not only need better border security and more support for border patrol agents, but also employer sanctions for those knowingly hiring illegal immigrants and a guest worker program. Most importantly, we need fair compensation for border communities struggling with the costs of illegal immigration. I applaud the President for reaching out to Congress on this issue, and I look forward to working with the administration and Republicans and Democrats in Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, as Members of the 110th Congress we are about to cast one of our most important votes yet. Americans in my district of southern Arizona and across the country want their Representatives to bring closure to the United States' involvement in Iraq. This vote is the first step towards doing precisely that. A few weeks ago President Bush gave a nationally televised speech to the American people to announce his new way forward for Iraq. But it sounded strangely familiar. The President acknowledged that his policies and plans in Iraq had failed to yield the promised results, and yet his only suggestion was to do more of the same. During my first few weeks in Congress serving on the House Armed Services Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, I have been listening, learning, asking tough questions. I have participated in many hours of hearings and briefings with top administration officials. Those people include Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, Secretary of the Army Francis Harvey, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Congressman Lee Hamilton, co-chairman of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group commissioned by the President. Since being sworn into Congress, I have also been reading dozens of letters sent to me by my constituents, flying home to my district almost every single weekend to meet with concerned citizens. Recently I attended a returning warrior event in Arizona for Reservists coming back from combat. And last week I visited Walter Reed Hospital here in Washington, D.C. to speak with wounded soldiers and their families. These collective experiences have made me more confident than ever that the global war on terror and the situation in Iraq are more complicated than President Bush seems to realize. Common sense dictates that in order for any plan to succeed it must require the Iraqi people to calm the sectarian violence and unify behind a workable political structure. The President's plan fails to acknowledge the lack of willingness and capacity by the Iraqi political and religious leaders to achieve these necessary goals. Sectarian factions are divided more than ever. Without the serious involvement and motivation of the Iraqi people, the President's proposals to send more American troops into harm's way amounts to little more than having 21,000 more soldiers stay the course. This I cannot support. The President should consider the views of many active and retired military generals who advised him to change his strategy in Iraq. Instead of adding more soldiers, he should instead focus on some of the best recommendations set forward by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group that he commissioned. These recommendations include keeping Iraq rapid reaction and special operation forces in Iraq to strike al Qaeda militias, setting performance benchmarks for the Iraqi Government and holding them accountable, providing economic assistance to Iraq that will help create jobs, strengthen infrastructure, and improve the Iraqi capacity to be independent and stable. Last but not least, beginning a new dialogue with Iraq's neighbors because they need to be part of the solution. The basic message of the Iraq Study Group and other credible experts and strategists is that the situation in Iraq is a political not just a military crisis. The President's military escalation plan without a political component is bound to fail. Along with all other patriotic Americans, I strongly support our men and women in uniform who are risking their lives to protect and defend our Nation. Our Armed Forces must have the tools, the training and the support that they need to be successful in any mission. I have serious concerns, Mr. Speaker, that our Army, Marine Corps, along with Guard and Reserve forces are being stretched too thin. Instead of sending 21,000 more young American soldiers to Iraq as part of that same failed strategy, the President should focus on the Global War on Terror. Failure is not an option. America must prevail against many serious threats around the world, whether in the Middle East or elsewhere. Mr. Speaker, I will vote to support the resolution before this body because our brave men and women in uniform deserve a strategy that honors their sacrifices. The President's plan does not do that.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make clear once again the immediate need for a comprehensive immigration reform package. The L.A. Times yesterday reported that seven of the largest tunnels discovered under the U.S.-Mexico border in recent years have still yet to be filled in. This troubles me for many reasons, not the least of which because smugglers have tried to use these passages before. We need to work in a bipartisan fashion to end illegal immigration. And we have to focus our attention on those who wish to do America harm, whether they are drug smugglers, human smugglers or terrorists. President Bush made it very clear last week in the State of the Union address that we need to have a serious civil and conclusive debate on illegal immigration. I agree, and I look forward to doing just that, working with the administration and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do just that. My district in southern Arizona continues to bear the brunt of the crisis, whether it is in our schools, our law enforcement, our first responders or in our hospitals. It is time to do what is necessary to secure the border now.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled today to speak on this final piece of legislation of our first 100 hours and perhaps the most important piece of legislation, the CLEAN Energy Act. In the early 1960s, in response to the Russians when they launched Sputnik, President Kennedy decided to send a man to the Moon. And remember his words. He said: ``We choose to go to the Moon. We choose to go to the Moon in this decade, not because it's easy, but because it's hard.'' And we did it and we led in science and math and engineering, and it was greatness for our Nation. These policies led to a major technological breakthrough that benefited both our military and our economy; and now America faces a greater challenge than ever. How we respond to this challenge will have lasting effects not just for the American people but for the entire world. We put our national security at risk when we are reliant on unstable regimes, Middle Eastern oil, Latin American oil. We put our economy at risk by not adequately investing in science and math and engineering and technology, and we put our world at risk when we ignore the real threats of global warming. Ending America's addiction to foreign oil, investing in renewable energy, and achieving clean energy independence is the Apollo mission of our generation. This will not just result in better jobs and the creation of hundreds of thousands of new economic opportunities for our citizens, but a more stable and a more sustainable world. The CLEAN Energy Act is a meaningful first step in our new mission, and I look forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats in achieving this goal.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, with the completion of the first 100 hours, I stand here today to discuss an issue of critical importance to southern Arizona, and that is our illegal immigration crisis. Let me point out two recent events. On January 12, a Border Patrol agent had a deadly altercation with an illegal immigrant crossing into our district. That investigation is going on at this moment. A couple of weeks ago, members of the National Guard unit assigned to work with the Border Patrol were threatened by an armed gang that came into our country and then left. That incident is being looked at. While many questions still surround these recent incidents, one thing is crystal clear: Now that our 100 hours are over, we must address the illegal immigration crisis and secure the border today. We are putting our Border Patrol and the National Guard under tremendous strain. It is our responsibility to provide them with the necessary resources and the tools they need. Fighting for a comprehensive immigration plan must be a priority for this Congress, Democrats and Republicans working together.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for the College Student Relief Act, legislation that will cut interest rates in half over the next 5 years. We live in an information-driven world where a college education is more vital than ever. Yet financial barriers will prevent millions of American high school graduates from realizing their full potential and getting the education that they need. This legislation will help middle- and working-class families afford to send their children to college at a time when the cost of college, particularly in Arizona, is skyrocketing. The average subsidized loan debt for tens of thousands of students in my home State of Arizona is around $15,000, a staggering amount for someone entering the workforce. This new act will save students in Arizona an average of $4,700, a substantial difference. We must focus on preparing young Americans like those we have in the gallery today to be competitive in this 21st century global economy. Ensuring access to higher education is critical. This is a goal that is supported by the American people.

Ms. GIFFORDS

Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak for the very first time in this distinguished Chamber representing the Eighth District of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, we have made some major accomplishments this week, but one area that particularly pertains to my district and to the State of Arizona has not been addressed, and that is the crisis in illegal immigration. For too long, Congress and Washington have failed to act. We must secure the border now. My district and the State of Arizona have paid a heavy price for this burden. We know it in our schools, our hospitals and our law enforcement agencies. We must move this year with a sense of urgency to pass a comprehensive immigration reform package that is tough, effective, and practical. We need to increase border security using modern-era technology, radar, drones, electronic surveillance. There must be more Border Patrol agents and more support for those Border Patrol agents. We also need tough employer sanctions for those employers who are knowingly hiring people illegally, and a guest worker program, so that people can come in and work legally, safely, and return back to their home countries. Working to pass such measures will be my priority in this 110th Congress, and I look forward to working with Members on both sides of the aisle on this important issue.