Harry Reid

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, last night the Senate advanced a bipartisan immigration reform bill that will be good for national security and very good for our economy. It will be good for American citizens as well as those who aspire to one day become citizens. It is truly gratifying to see the momentum behind this commonsense reform proposal. Eighty-four Senators voted to adopt the motion to proceed to this legislation--a very strong vote. By comparison, the Senate failed to advance an immigration reform bill just 6 years ago when only 46 Senators voted to end debate on that measure. It is a sign of progress that the legislation now before the Senate has not been stopped procedurally. I hope we are allowed to proceed on this legislation without being blocked by some arcane Senate rule and that we can finish this legislation and send it to the House of Representatives. I applaud the Gang of 8 for their bipartisan proposal. That is how the Senate used to work. They worked hard. They have worked through hundreds of different proposals. After the Gang of 8 finished their work, they took it before the Judiciary Committee. There were over 100 amendments--many more than 100 amendments. They adopted 46, and some 40 amendments were Republican amendments that were adopted. Chairman Leahy conducted a fair markup, and no one disputes that. So I commend the Gang of 8 for allowing the bill to get to the Judiciary Committee, and I thank the Judiciary Committee for now giving us this proposal and bringing it to the floor, and now Democrats allowing us to proceed on this legislation, as well as Republicans. Our goal now is to pass the strongest legislation possible, with as many votes as possible, while staying true to our principles, then await what the House is going to do. The Speaker has said he wants a bill that will allow the Democrats to vote. That is good news because in the House, for the last two Congresses, there have been very few opportunities for the Democrats to vote on substantive legislation. The Speaker has said he will only allow legislation to pass over there that has a majority of the majority. That means only Republicans. If they don't have enough Republican votes, they are not going to bring up a bill for a vote. So I am very pleased the Speaker would say that. It is important we understand the procedure we have used for 230-plus years in this body: We pass something here, they pass something in the House, we go to conference and work out our differences. So I understand we have a long road before us and more work will be necessary to get this bill across the finish line. I truly understand that. I know some of my Republican colleagues will support this bill if they feel confident what is in the bill adequately addresses the need to secure our borders. I agree the legislation focused on border security a lot. I think that is important, and I am glad it did. Reform that takes significant steps to stop illegal crossings is important, and reform that does not take significant steps to stop illegal crossings will fail. That is why I so admire what was done by the Gang of 8 and the Judiciary Committee in regard to that issue. They have done a terrific job on border security. We should all also acknowledge the progress the Obama administration has already made to secure our borders. Illegal border crossings are down 80 percent. That is no small accomplishment. Yesterday I received a letter from my colleagues, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee Pat Leahy, and the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee Tom Carper, detailing the tremendous strides we have made toward a more secure border. As described by the Wall Street Journal, illegal entries nationwide are at a four-decade low. We have less crossings now than we had at any time during the last 4 years, and the number of illegal entrants who sneak into the country through the southern border and successfully elude law enforcement--so-called ``got aways'' is what they are called--is down 86 percent. Smarter technology, physical barriers, and double the number of agents on the border have made this achievement possible. We must ensure those who come to America seeking a better life do so in compliance with our laws. The measure before the Senate builds on the progress we have made by allocating even more resources for border security infrastructure, and that includes patrol bases, unmanned vehicles--yes, drones--helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, sensors, x- rays, cameras, and more. This legislation also includes additional funding for the prosecution of those who are caught crossing illegally. The legislation also establishes two strict but attainable statutory border security goals: to prevent 90 percent of illegal entries and to monitor the entire southern border, not just high-risk sectors of the border. Chairman Leahy and Chairman Carper agreed in their letter that this legislation will reduce illegal entries by reforming our legal immigration system. This legislation will make it virtually impossible for undocumented people to work, so they will no longer have an incentive to enter illegally. This is what my two colleagues said in their letter: We need to stop focusing our attention on the symptoms and start leading with the underlying root causes of illegal immigration in a way that is tough, practical, and fair. That says it all. This bill does that. There is one thing this bill does not do and should not do: It does not and should not make the path to citizenship contingent on attaining border security goals that are impossible to measure. That would leave millions who aspire to become citizens in indefinite limbo. We have to move past this. Six years ago we tried to do something about it and the situation only got worse. This legislation is critical. If we made those goals impossible, the legislation would be a failure. This would give opponents of citizenship in the Senate an opportunity to prevent our border security goals from being met in order to block the path to citizenship. I am concerned that some who oppose the very idea of reform see these triggers as a backdoor way to undermine the legislation, and we must be very careful in recognizing that people are trying to do that with this legislation now before this body. I believe some Republicans with no intention of voting for the final bill--no intention, regardless of how it is amended--seek to offer amendments with the sole purpose of derailing this vital reform. I commend Senators--Democrats and Republicans--who sincerely want to make this proposal stronger by enhancing its border security provisions. So I look forward to hearing ideas over the next few days on amendments--ideas to make our country safer and more secure. If that is the intent, we will certainly look at it, and I hope we can move forward as expeditiously as possible. I am glad colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, are engaged in this debate and are interested in offering amendments, but I hope those amendments will be constructive in nature. We have come too far and the country needs this legislation too badly to lose sight of our purpose now. As Martin Luther said, ``Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.'' There is no better example of that than this legislation because hope is what it is all about. As Martin Luther said, ``Everything that is done in the world is done by hope,'' and I certainly believe that regarding this legislation.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am happy to allow a colloquy between the two Senators--questions or otherwise--but I have a consent request that Senator Grassley and I have been waiting to do for some time. So when we complete our work, I would hope the two Senators would engage in whatever conversation they want. I have also been told that perhaps Senator Leahy, the manager of this bill, may want to say something. So, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be in order to be called up before the Senate: Thune No. 1197, Vitter No. 1228, Landrieu No. 1222, and Tester No. 1198; that the time until 4:30 p.m. be equally divided between the two managers or their designees for debate on these amendments and the Grassley amendment No. 1195; that at 4:30 p.m. the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the Grassley amendment; that upon disposition of the Grassley amendment, the Senate proceed to vote on the four amendments in this agreement in the order listed; that there be no second-degree amendments in order prior to the votes; that all five amendments be subject to a 60-affirmative vote threshold; that there be 2 minutes equally divided in between the votes, and all after the first vote be 10-minute votes.

Mr. REID. It is my understanding----

Mr. REID. Yes. My friend has a consent request I understand he wants to propose.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I am somewhat surprised at this request. How many times have we heard the Republican leader say on this floor and publicly that the new reality in the Senate is 60? So I just thought I was following the direction of the Republican leader. This is what he said. That is why we are having 60 votes on virtually everything. And with this bill--with this bill--no one can in any way suggest this bill is not important and these amendments are not important. So I care a great deal about my friend, the ranking member of this committee, but I object.

Mr. REID. Yes.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, a provocative act? If my friend is so interested in regular order, why have we waited 3 months to go to conference on the budget? On the budget. That is regular order. Now, suddenly, when it works to their advantage, I guess, they want to do away with the McConnell rule. What is the McConnell rule? Sixty votes on everything.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I still have the floor. I am sorry we have had this disagreement, but I would say to everybody that there are other ways of having simple-majority votes. If there is an objection to this, we will have to go to that.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I appreciate my friend yielding. Mr. President, I read into the Record in some detail today a letter that he wrote with Senator Leahy talking about what has gone on in recent years with border security. Our country is very fortunate to have this good man leading our Homeland Security Committee. There are some Senators I don't know as much about as I do about this man, but we have been together since 1982. He had a sabbatical for 8 years to run the State of Delaware as Governor, but other than that, we have been locked in arms, moving forward. I appreciate very much his yielding.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to S. Res. 168.

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask we move to S. Res. 169.

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent S. 954 be printed as passed by the Senate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Appropriations Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2217; that the papers with respect to the bill be returned to the House of Representatives as requested by the House; and when the bill is received back in the Senate it be referred to the Appropriations Committee, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, Thursday, June 13, 2013; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; and that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of S. 744, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I therefore ask, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, that following the remarks of this distinguished Senator from Delaware, the Senate adjourn under the previous order.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, following leader remarks--and today we will hear from Senator McConnell first--the Senate will resume the motion to proceed to the comprehensive immigration legislation. The time until 12:30 will be equally divided and controlled between the proponents and opponents of this legislation. The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15 to allow for the weekly caucus meetings. At 2:15 there will be a cloture vote to proceed to the immigration legislation. If cloture is invoked, the time until 4 p.m. will be equally divided, and at 4 p.m. there will be a vote on the adoption of the motion to proceed so we can begin debate on that legislation.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, it is important that everyone keeps their word. I am pleased the Republican leader acknowledged that the immigration system is broken and needs fixing, and we will have a full and open debate on this over the next 3 weeks. That is very good. I am very glad to hear the Republican leader will vote to help us move forward on this legislation. For 15 years, James Courtney fought for this country as a Member of the U.S. Army. He did that for a decade and a half. For most of those 15 years, James' wife Sharon was at home in Las Vegas fighting being deported. She has lived in America since she was a young teenager. She speaks fluent English. She has three sons with her husband James, and he has been her husband for 13 years. She has supported James through three tours of duty in Iraq where he was wounded significantly, suffered brain injury, and because of his wounds had to retire medically from the military. But because she is in the United States without the proper paperwork, she has lived with the fear that she, on any given day, would be deported back to Mexico and her family would be torn apart. Servicemembers and veterans of the U.S. military--and their family members who support them--deserve a better life than worry and fear. In March, just a few weeks ago, James and Sharon came to Washington. They came with hundreds of other immigrants who are concerned about being deported. They are concerned about immigration reform. They know the system is broken and needs to be fixed. This is what James said: I did what my country asked me to do. Now I'm asking my country to keep us together for the sake of humanity and freedom. James spoke about keeping his three American children together with the mother of those three children, his wife. When I heard James and Sharon's story, I was recommitted to doing something to help them. And I did. Not only is Sharon a wonderful mother and wife, she is also caretaker to her disabled husband. Her family needs her. Last month, James and Sharon learned that immigration officials have deferred her status, her deportation. She is no longer in immediate danger of being separated from her family. See, Mr. President, she was a DREAMer, and that is who President Obama stepped forward to help. In effect, what this did is it allowed her to stay and care for her husband and three children. Her children are 16, 11, and 8 years of age. While I was happy to help James and Sharon, it is unfortunate that they needed any help in the first place. When our servicemembers are fighting overseas, they should be focused on the difficult and dangerous job they face--not worried about their family members back home. Think about that. If she had been deported while he was overseas, what would the three boys do? Dad is overseas. They are Americans. They were born here. No veteran of the U.S. military should have to fight to keep his wife, the caretaker of his children, by his side. Her story is compelling. Their story is compelling. But there are millions of stories just like it--stories of mothers and fathers terrified of being torn away from their U.S. citizen children; stories of young men and women fearful of being deported from the only country they know, they have ever called home; stories of families forced to live in the shadows despite coming to America in search of a brighter future. There are 11 million reasons to pass commonsense immigration reform that mends our broken system--11 million stories of fear of being deported, fear of heartbreak, fear of suffering, and actual suffering they have facing them every day worrying about if they can go to the store, do they have to stay home. They certainly cannot travel. But for this fine young woman, that has been taken away because of President Obama. These stories should motivate Congress to act. The bipartisan proposal before this body takes important steps to strengthen border security. It is remarkable what we already have there. We have drones, 700 miles of fencing. We have sensors. We have fixed-wing aircraft flying around with helicopters. We have 21,000 Border Patrol agents. But if there are ways people believe we could do better on security that is important, that is not just some reason to try to kill this legislation, let's take a look at it. I spoke this morning with the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Carper. He has some ideas. He is preparing amendments. I like Senator Carper always. He is very thoughtful, and I am sure he will do something that he believes would improve the situation on the border. He has gone, as a member of that committee and chairman of that committee, all over the southern part of this country looking at what is happening on the border. So the bipartisan proposal before the Senate takes important steps to strengthen border security. It also makes crucial improvements to our broken immigration system so families like James and Sharon's are never subject to this kind of anguish again. While this legislation is not an instant fix for families, it does provide a pathway to earned citizenship. It does not put them at the front of the line. It puts them at the back of the line. They have to stay out of trouble. They have to work, pay taxes, and focus on learning English. That is what it is about. Passing meaningful immigration reform will be good for our national security, it will be good for the economy, it will be good for James and Sharon Courtney and millions of families just like them. James is a veteran who sacrificed his time and his health to keep this Nation safe from harm. He is now disabled. We can at least thank him by keeping his family safe--and together.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I would ask the Chair at this time to recognize the Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Schatz, who replaced Senator Inouye. I understand he is going to give his maiden speech in the Senate today. I would ask that the Chair recognize him.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Would the Chair announce the business of the day.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. REID

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, June 12; that following the prayer and the pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and that following any leader remarks the Senate be in a period of morning business for 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each during that time, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the majority controlling the first half and the Republicans the final half; further, that following morning business the Senate resume consideration of S. 744.