02.13.18

On Immigration Reform, Border Security, Senate Needs to Look Past Talking Points, Focus on Making Law

‘Yesterday, a number of my colleagues announced a reasonable proposal that I believe is our best chance to make law… Their solution provides funding to secure the border, reforms extended family chain migration, and recalibrates the visa lottery program. This proposal has my support. And during this week of fair debate, I believe it deserves the support of every senator who is ready to move beyond making points and make law.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the immigration and border security debate:

“Yesterday, the Senate took an initial step toward considering proposals to address DACA, border security, and other immigration issues. This week’s debate comes as no surprise to my colleagues. For a month now, I’ve repeatedly stated my intention to bring these issues to the Senate floor following a government funding agreement. Senators have had plenty of time to prepare.

“There is no reason why we should not reach a bipartisan solution this week. But to do this, we need to get the debate started, look past making political points, and focus on making law. Making law will take sixty votes in the Senate, a majority in the House, and the president’s signature.

“Yesterday, a number of my colleagues announced a reasonable proposal that I believe is our best chance to make law. It attends to my Democratic colleagues’ stated top priority: A compassionate solution for 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. In exchange, it also delivers on the president’s stated conditions. Their solution provides funding to secure the border, reforms extended family chain migration, and recalibrates the visa lottery program.

“This proposal has my support. And during this week of fair debate, I believe it deserves the support of every senator who is ready to move beyond making points and make law. But if other proposals are to be considered, our colleagues will have to actually introduce their own amendments, rather than just talk about them. I made a commitment to hold this debate, and to hold it this week. I have lived up to my commitment. I hope everyone will cooperate so this opportunity does not go to waste.”

Related Issues: Homeland Security, Immigration