House panel sends defense bill to the floor, setting up immigration fight

The Hill ^ | 05/14/2015 | Cristina Marcos

[GIdget2004]

The House Rules Committee voted late Wednesday night to move the chamber’s version of the annual defense bill to the floor, setting up a potentially bruising debate on immigration.

In a party-line 8-3 vote, the panel allowed 135 amendments to the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

One amendment, by Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), would eliminate language establishing a sense of Congress calling for the Secretary of Defense to consider allowing recipients of President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to serve in the military.

However, the GOP-controlled panel rejected a request made last week by Brooks and 24 other GOP members for the text to be stricken before the massive $612 billion measure reached the House floor.

Speaking before the panel in favor of his amendment, Brooks said the House Armed Services Committee approved the immigration language during the “early morning sleep-depraved portion” of the panel’s 18-hour bill markup.

He argued the text, which was approved 33-30 and attracted six Republican supporters, “betrays” Americans and legal immigrants by giving opportunities to illegal immigrants.

Several GOP lawmakers testified in favor of the Brooks amendment, most notably from Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), an immigration hard-liner.

He argued that the amendment — introduced by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) — should be taken out of the defense bill, as immigration issues fall under the Judiciary Committee’s purview.

King also said any floor debate “could impact” a court case underway in Texas that is examining the legality of the DACA effort.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) argued that “unlike a lot of issues,” Gallego’s amendment went through “regular order” in the Armed Services Committee.

[bestintxas]

this is NOT a fight on immigration.

It is a fight on ILLEGAL immigration.

[17th Miss Regt]

“early morning sleep depraved portion”

The current leadership does not need to be short on sleep to get depraved. They are that way already.

[GIdget2004]

Make sure to pay special attention to these sentences:

“One amendment, by Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), would eliminate language establishing a sense of Congress calling for the Secretary of Defense to consider allowing recipients of President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to serve in the military.

“However, the GOP-controlled panel rejected a request made last week by Brooks and 24 other GOP members for the text to be stricken before the massive $612 billion measure reached the House floor.”

[bestintxas]

the President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is illegal

[Paine in the Neck]

With 600 million people south of our porous non-existent southern border and untold millions outside the Americas who might also avail themselves of easy access, there can be only one immigration policy - take away the incentives to cheat the system and enter illegally. Stop giving prizes for illegal entry.

Any measure that permits those who entered illegally to benefit from that illegal act is amnesty.

This must be stopped.

Will you help stop this?

You can help:

Right-click this image and save it. Send a copy to your Senators and Reps right now and whenever you communicate with them. When you get fundraising solicitations, include a copy in your reply. Send copies to your friends and family and ask them to do likewise.

[Excellence]

He’s depraved on account he’s deprived.