Response to Washington Post Account of CEI's Victory on Paris Climate Decision

Source: Competitive Enterprise Institute

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Washington, D.C. - September 7, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Competitive Enterprise Institute President Kent Lassman released the following statement in response to Robert O’Harrow’s article in The Washington Post about CEI’s Myron Ebell, the Cooler Heads Coalition, and their work relevant to President Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement. The article also challenges the role and independence of think tanks in public policy debates.

"Although The Washington Post’s story about CEI, Myron Ebell, and the Cooler Heads Coalition correctly identifies the success that CEI and the Cooler Heads organizations have had debunking global warming alarmism and exposing the devastating, regulatory onslaught that comes along with it, the Post fails to show Americans how public policy groups like CEI help cut through the rhetoric and bring people together on the merits of policies rather than short-sighted politics. Thanks to Myron and Cooler Heads, millions of people continue to have access to reliable and affordable energy, a resource that has lifted people out of poverty around the globe.

“The Post spends a lot of space questioning CEI's nonprofit status and activities, while conveniently ignoring groups 10 times our size. These organizations advocate for radical changes in our national energy policies and rely upon the very same IRS provisions. We can, and should, debate what the climate science shows and the policies we should implement as a result. But, what we cannot stand for are ideologues who weaponize data, spread junk science, and stoke fears to force political decisions that will take away Americans’ freedoms, undermine the U.S. Constitution, and jeopardize our national interests.” ​

CAGW’s Deborah Collier Testifies Before Senate Commerce Committee on FCC’s Lifeline Program

Source: Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW)

Washington, D.C. - September 7, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) Director of Technology and Telecommunications Policy, Deborah Collier, testified this morning before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s hearing on the, “Risk of Waste, Fraud and Abuse in the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline Program.”

The testimony reads, in part:

“Many Americans have heard of the ‘Obamaphones,’ made infamous by the viral 2012 video of a Cleveland woman touting the ‘free’ Lifeline program. However, few Americans realize is that Lifeline is part of the Low-Income support program, which was created in 1985 to provide subsidies for low-income households to obtain a telephone enabling them to communicate in emergencies.

“Over the years, the Lifeline program has evolved from initially providing one landline telephone per household in need, to offering low-income, qualified subscribers a choice between a landline telephone, a wireless phone, or broadband internet service at a reduced cost (with a limit of one per household).”

“GAO also revealed multiple instances of fraud and abuse within the program. For example, some recipients were using Craigslist to advertise the sale of Lifeline-subsidized phones and service. In other instances, Lifeline beneficiaries violated the one phone line restriction of the program by signing up for service from multiple carriers.”

“Continued fraud and abuse within the Lifeline program has continued despite efforts to reform the verification process in 2012 and again in 2015. If Congress intends to continue the Lifeline program and make it sustainable in the future, CAGW strongly recommends that the USAC be required to implement a front end verification process, and the FCC engage in more stringent enforcement actions against companies that actively register ineligible or duplicate recipients into the program, and skirt the verification process.”

Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.

Defeating Terrorists, Not Terrorism

Source: The Bipartisan Policy Center

In the 16 years since the 9/11 attacks, U.S. counterterrorism efforts have succeeded in preventing another mass-casualty attack on U.S. soil. But despite that success at home, the terrorist threat continues to spread. Too often, U.S. counterterrorism efforts have focused on military operations against a specific group, while doing too little to prevent new generations from replenishing their ranks.

Washington, D.C. - September 7, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- A new Bipartisan Policy Center task force led by former Gov. Tom Kean and former Rep. Lee Hamilton, who led the 9/11 Commission, is examining why the terrorist threat remains so potent and developing a long-term strategy to defeat jihadist ideology.

The Task Force on Terrorism and Ideology today issued its first paper, Defeating Terrorists, Not Terrorism: Assessing U.S. Counterterrorism Policy from 9/11 to ISIS, which offers an in-depth look at why, despite the many successes of U.S. actions against terrorism, new groups have continued to emerge.

“Even as the military defeat of the Islamic State appears imminent, American policymakers must avoid the temptation of confusing the defeat of one brutal terrorist organization with victory against terrorism,” Hamilton said. “As long as jihadists can replenish their ranks as fast as we can take them off the battlefield, the threat will persist.”

“The generational struggle against Islamist terrorism will come to an end only when the ambitions that motivate groups such as al Qaeda and the Islamic State no longer inspire new recruits to violence,” Kean said. “We can, and must, do better to defeat terrorists’ ideas.”

The task force of top national security, diplomatic, and intelligence experts will release recommendations in the future.

BPC is holding an event on Sept. 8 to discuss these issues. Speakers include key congressional and executive branch officials and notable experts.

85 percent of Americans support free speech for all, even the unpopular, 63 percent oppose political violence by Antifa

Source: Americans for Limited Government
Source: Center for Security Policy


Washington, D.C. - September 6, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- A new public opinion survey conducted by McLaughlin and Associates found the vast preponderance of those polled favors the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression—and rejects the notion that some should be denied that right. This finding confirms that of a recent Rasmussen poll. Together, these distinguished pollsters’ data represent a powerful warning for government officials, lawmakers and activists intent on restricting free speech if, in their view or others, it gives “offense.”

Key results of the McLaughlin survey conducted last week included the following:

By a margin of 85 percent to 8 percent, respondents said that, in the aftermath of the riots in Charlottesville, Virginia, last month, “all Americans are entitled to free speech,” not “just some of us.”

84.9 percent of respondents regarded “freedom of speech as a fundamental right.” Only 9.3 percent thought “it should be restricted if it offends some people.”

63 percent opposed the violent leftist group Antifa’s attempts to silence those whose speech it disagrees with, while only 21 percent supported Antifa.

A plurality of 42.8 percent opposed the use by internet companies of a list compiled by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) that accuses “many mainstream conservative groups” of engaging in “hate speech.” Only 31.8 percent supported such use.

Frank J. Gaffney, the president of one of those conservative groups, the Center for Security Policy, responded to the latest poll by observing:

“Americans clearly understand the dangers associated with attempts to censor speech and other forms of expression. Today, it might be someone else who is being silenced. Tomorrow, it may well be you. And, to the extent that organizations funded by the likes of radical leftists like George Soros—including the Southern Poverty Law Center and Antifa—are allowed to act as the arbiters of who is allowed to communicate, about what and how, it’s just a matter of time before many millions of us are gagged.

“The Left and the Islamist allies it enables have clearly crossed a line,” Gaffney continued. “Organizations like the SPLC, the Anti-Defamation League and the Council on American-Islamic Relations are engaged in political warfare pure and simple, aimed at denying their opponents’ free speech rights in academia, in the media, on the internet and in the public square. Politicians—and most especially Republican ones—acquiesce to such anti-constitutional conduct at their own electoral peril.”

Indeed, the wake-up call to public office-holders offered by the McLaughlin and Rasmussen polls on free speech could hardly be more timely. After all, in April 2017—even before the bloodletting in Charlottesville spawned relentless, bipartisan demands for limiting “offensive” expression—the U.S. Senate unanimously approved S.Res. 118, co-sponsored by Sens. Marco Rubio, Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris. It was described as “a resolution condemning hate crime and any other form of racism, religious or ethnic bias, discrimination, incitement to violence, or animus targeting a minority in the United States.”

Animus is a sweeping term that can include such highly subjective sentiments as hostility, ill-feeling and strong dislike. The resolution also called for federal investigation of not just hate crimes but “hate incidents” and “hate threats,” both undefined. A counterpart resolution is awaiting action in the House of Representatives, as are actual bills with names like the “NO HATE Act” in both the Senate and the House.

Speaking of Soros and his ilk, the McLaughlin poll also found that by a nearly two-to-one margin, 48.5 to 26.3, respondents agreed that President Donald Trump should not employ “subordinates who can be shown to be colluding with George Soros, Barack Obama or others associated with them to undermine President Trump’s administration.” Among Trump voters, the spread was even wider, 67.6 percent to 18.4 percent.

The Center for Security Policy strongly agrees with the prevailing sentiments documented in the McLaughlin and Associates poll. It calls on every American who loves freedom to exercise their First Amendment rights. That should, among other things, entail insisting that their lawmakers uphold freely sworn oaths to “defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in response to a poll by Center for Security Policy/Eagle Forum/McLaughlin & Associates showing overwhelming support for the First Amendment and free speech rights:

“At a time when the First Amendment is under unprecedented assault by the institutional left, the American people have proven once again that they are not willing to trade their essential liberty to avoid being potentially offended, with 85 percent unequivocally supporting free speech rights for everyone, including those they disagree with. Particularly telling is the result that nearly two-thirds of Americans are opposed to the radical Antifa movement, which supports and engages in violence against those they disagree with.

“The fact that the First Amendment maintains broad suppport across America clearly shows that freedom runs through the very DNA of the American people, and those who seek to undermine basic freedoms or provide aid and comfort in that effort, do so at their own political peril.

“Private companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter and Paypal need to proceed cautiously as they consider becoming arbiters of appropriate speech on the Internet, because if Americans believe that they have relinquished their neutrality, they will lose their dominance to market alternatives.”

Over Twenty Leading Conservative Organizations Urge Congress to Pass Pro-Growth Tax Reform in Open Letter

Source: American Action Network


Washington, D.C. - September 6, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- As Congress returns from August recess, American Action Network’s Middle-Class Growth Initiative (MCGI) is pleased to lead a coalition of over 20 state and national conservative organizations calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to seize the opportunity to deliver transformative tax reform. In an open letter, the MCGI-led coalition highlighted the failures of America’s tax code and urged every member of the U.S. House to make the tax code simpler, fairer, and with lower rates to help revitalize America’s middle class.

A personalized letter will be hand-delivered to every House member’s office in Washington. The coalition letter marks the first of several open letters released as part of AAN’s ongoing efforts on tax reform.

“Now that Congress is back, it’s time to get to work and deliver transformational tax reform that will cut taxes on the middle class, raise wages, and allow U.S. job creators to compete,” said AAN Executive Director Corry Bliss. “After seeing years of stagnant wages, jobs lost to places like China, and slow economic growth, American families have had enough of our broken tax code. With this letter, we’re showing members of Congress that conservatives are united and will stand with them as they work to pass meaningful reforms that American job creators and middle-class families need.”

The full letter, sent to every member of the House of Representatives, can be read here. List of signatories:

Alabama Policy Institute
American Action Network
Americans for Tax Reform
American Commitment
Americans for Limited Government
Beacon Center of Tennessee
Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions
Center for Freedom and Prosperity
Center for Individual Freedom
Citizens United
Council for Citizens Against Government Waste
FreedomWorks Freedom Foundation of Minnesota
Georgia Public Policy Foundation
Hispanic Leadership Fund
Independence Institute
Middle-Class Growth Initiative
National Taxpayers Union
Rio Grande Foundation
R Street Institute
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy
60 Plus Association

Colorado designer may appeal ruling that won’t let her challenge law forcing her to promote same-sex weddings

Source: Alliance Defending Freedom



Denver, CO - September 6, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- A Colorado graphic designer who specializes in designing and creating custom websites is likely to appeal a federal judge’s ruling issued Friday. The ruling doesn’t allow her to challenge a law that forces her to use her artistic talents to promote same-sex ceremonies if she creates custom websites and graphics celebrating weddings between one man and one woman. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represent Lorie Smith and her studio, 303 Creative.

The judge ruled that Smith and her studio can’t sue to challenge a portion of Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act because a request that a couple with the first names “Stewart” and “Mike” sent Smith isn’t sufficient to prove that a same-sex couple has asked her to help them celebrate their wedding. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission has construed the law to force artists like Smith to create objectionable art even though Smith happily serves everyone and decides what art to create based on the art’s message—not her client’s personal characteristics.

The law also prohibits artists from expressing any religious views about marriage that could indicate someone is “unwelcome, objectionable, unacceptable, or undesirable” because of their sexual orientation. The judge is allowing Smith to sue against that portion of the law but is holding the case until the U.S. Supreme Court rules in another ADF case, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, involving Colorado cake artist Jack Phillips.

“Artists shouldn’t be threatened with punishment for deciding, as artists always have, which messages they are going to promote or not promote,” said ADF Senior Counsel Jonathan Scruggs. “Because the court’s ruling allows the state to violate the freedom of artists like Lorie to make these kinds of personal decisions, she is considering appeal.”

“Every American, including artists, should be free to peacefully live and work according to their faith without fear of unjust punishment by the government,” added ADF Legal Counsel Kate Anderson. “Just because an artist creates expression that communicates one viewpoint doesn’t mean Colorado can require her to express all viewpoints. Lorie should be allowed to proceed with her legal challenge in full because it’s unlawful to force an artist to create art against her will just because the government disagrees with her beliefs.”

The lawsuit, 303 Creative v. Elenis, which ADF attorneys filed last year in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, explains how the state law runs afoul of various provisions of the U.S. Constitution, including the First Amendment’s Free Speech and Free Press clauses. Specifically, the suit challenges Colorado Revised Statute § 24-34-601(2)(a). The law is the same one the commission used against Phillips and Masterpiece Cakeshop.

MRD Law partner Michael L. Francisco, one of nearly 3,200 attorneys allied with ADF, is serving as local counsel in the case for Smith and 303 Creative.

REPS. DEMINGS, MURPHY, SOTO SEEK TO ADD COUNTER-TERROR FUNDING TO FEDERAL SPENDING BILL

Source: House Representative Darren Soto (D-FL, 9th)

Washington, D.C. - September 5, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- When Congress returns this week, the House of Representatives is scheduled to begin work on a spending bill to prevent a government shutdown at the end of September. Representatives Val Demings, Stephanie Murphy, and Darren Soto want the bill to include counter-terrorism funding for Orlando. The three filed an amendment that would add $20 million in additional funding to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget for grants to sustain training and equipment that was obtained with previous federal funds.

“This funding would help Orlando and other cities avoid losing ground on preparedness,” said Congresswoman Val Demings. “The federal government has a continuing responsibility to assist this nation’s cities in preventing and preparing to respond to acts of terrorism. I believe we have no greater obligation than to keep the people that we represent safe from harm.”

“We have seen too many recent international and national tragedies, including in our beloved Orlando. In this era of growing terror threats, it is vital we are proactive with our preparedness and prevention plans. Additional funding for UASI counter-terror programs will equip our Central Florida Police Departments and First Responders with the necessary training and resources to better protect our community in case of the unexpected. Orlando is a thriving, global city, and we must continue to do all we can to keep Floridians and our visitors safe and secure,” stated Congressman Darren Soto.

“The safety of our communities must be a top priority. Additional funding for the UASI program will help ensure that cities like Orlando are prepared to handle potential terrorist attacks. As a global tourist destination, Orlando faces unique security challenges. An increase in UASI funding will give law enforcement and first responders the training and tools they need to keep our families safe,” said Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy.

If the three lawmakers are successful in including the funding in Congress’ annual spending bill, cities like Orlando that previously received grants under the DHS’s Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) would be able to apply for new funding next year to sustain counter-terrorism training and equipment that was purchased with prior grant funds. The City of Orlando received funding through UASI in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014, but has not qualified for the funding since.

The amendment to the spending bill is just the latest effort by Central Florida’s Congressional delegation to restore the federal funding Orlando previously received under this program. Earlier this year, the three voted for legislation that passed the House, H.R. 2825, with a provision authored by Rep. Demings to create a new, permanent grant program to assist former UASI jurisdictions. Rep. Demings, Murphy, and Soto have also called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fix the flawed formula for calculating terrorism risk that is responsible for Orlando being excluded from UASI program eligibility in recent years.

“We will continue to urge Congress to expand the list of cities included and work to ensure that we have the proper funds to prepare and respond to terrorism in Central Florida,” the three Members of Congress said.

Congressional Leaders Condemn Anti-Choice Provisions in 2018 Appropriations Bills

Source: House Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY, 25th)

Washington, D.C. - September 5, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-25) and Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-1), co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, and Nita Lowey (NY-17), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, condemned the anti-choice provisions included in Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations bills as Congress considers these measures this week. There are an unprecedented number of anti-women provisions included in this legislation and additional amendments offered that attack women’s health and the constitutionally-protected right to choose. These attacks come despite the fact that members of the Pro-Choice Caucus have been instrumental in helping pass every bill to fund the government since 2011.



“We are in the midst of an unprecedented attack on women’s health care rights. From trying to zero out Title X family planning funding to eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood, there is apparently no length the Majority won’t go to attack the women of this country. Republican leaders in Congress are playing with fire by including these amendments given that members of the Pro-Choice Caucus have been needed to pass every bill to fund the government for the last six years. That support is being put at risk by the Majority’s decision to include these provisions. There is an easy fix, and that is for the Majority to remove them from these bills. Anti-women provisions have no place in any government funding bill,” said Slaughter.

“This year we have seen repeated Republican efforts to attack and undermine women’s access to comprehensive reproductive health care. Our fight is far from over,” said DeGette. “The House Republicans’ appropriations minibus is riddled with arbitrary and offensive anti-woman policies. The Pro-Choice Caucus strongly opposes these shameful riders and will not allow them to be included in any government funding bill.”

"The 2018 appropriations bills represent a sustained and multi-faceted assault on women's health care," said Lowey. “These bills go far beyond the majority's floundering effort to strip health insurance from 20 million people by repealing the Affordable Care Act. With funding cuts and terminations, and poison pill riders targeting women's legal health choices, contraception, and family planning at home and abroad, the majority is making clear they will stop at nothing to attack women's health care."

Shea-Porter Submits Amendment to Save ACA’s Navigator Program

Source: House Representative Carol Shea Porter (D NH, 1st)



Washington, D.C. - September 5, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) has submitted an amendment that would save the Affordable Care Act’s Navigator enrollment assistance grant program from elimination in this week’s House omnibus appropriations bill.

“Navigators provide an essential, free service to people in New Hampshire and around the country who need help finding the best plan for their needs and budget,” said Shea-Porter. “Comparing coverage options can be confusing, especially for people who haven’t had insurance in the past. I’ve seen New Hampshire Navigators’ skill and compassion firsthand, which is why I’m fighting to protect this essential community program from partisan Washington attacks.”

The enrollment assistance program, which provided $600,000 for New Hampshire grantees to hire Navigators last year, faces escalating threats from the Trump administration and House Republicans. On Friday, the Trump administration proposed cutting the Navigator program by $23 million, while this week’s House Republican Omnibus bill would completely eliminate the program by prohibiting any funding for Navigator grants during the upcoming fiscal year. Shea-Porter’s amendment strikes this prohibition and instructs the Administration to return $3 million to the Navigator program. Earlier this year, the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO), which administers the Navigator program, transferred $3 million in Navigator funding to conduct an anti-ACA study.

“Without local Navigator support, individuals and their families may lack information to make a thoughtful decision on insurance coverage options,” said Tess Stack Kuenning, President and CEO of Bi-State Primary Care Association, one of New Hampshire’s Navigator grantees. “Navigators are an ongoing community resource to help ensure that New Hampshire families have the coverage they need to stay healthy.”

Since its inception, the Navigator program has helped educate over 9 million consumers about their coverage options. In New Hampshire, Navigators work through the Bi-State Primary Care Association and the state’s Community Health Centers to provide impartial information about Marketplace plans, help consumers understand and evaluate all their options and apply for federal tax subsidies to lower the cost of premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and assist residents throughout the enrollment process.

On Wednesday (Sept 6), the House Rules Committee will decide whether Shea-Porter’s amendment is in order for a House floor vote later in the week.

More on Trump Ending DACA (Page 4)

Source: House of Representatives

Below are Statements from House Representatives about DACA Continued from page 1. (Check back for updates on this page)



House Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA, 30th)

“I strongly disagree with Donald Trump’s announced changes to the DACA program and his administration’s immigration policies,” said Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks). “I have been very public in my disdain for various actions of the Trump Administration, and have introduced Articles of Impeachment for separate reasons.”

Sherman continued, “Under the policy just released by the Administration it is critically important that those with DACA work permits that expire on or before March 5, 2018, apply for renewal immediately—I urge you not to wait until the October 5, 2017, deadline.”



House Representative Bill Shuster (R-PA, 9th)

“There wouldn’t be a DACA debate if our country didn’t have a serious problem with illegal immigration. While President Obama’s solution was to create policy without Congress, offering amnesty without real action to address the root cause, President Trump is making the correct decision to allow Congress to legislate and return to constitutional order.

“The real issue at hand is there are millions of individuals in the United States illegally. Congress needs to address the cause, not just the symptom, and curb illegal immigration. The DACA debate is an important reminder that increasing border security and enforcing immigration laws have to be top priorities for the 115th Congress.”



House Representative Albio Sires (D-NJ, 8th)

“The President’s cruel and reprehensible decision to end DACA with a six month delay is inhumane and devastating for families and communities across the country. In doing so, the President is also hurting our economy and our national security while diverting critical law enforcement efforts that should be focused on those who pose a true danger to public safety. Since it was launched in 2012, DACA has helped hundreds of thousands of eligible young people come out of the shadows to better themselves and their communities without the fear of being separated from their loved ones and sent to a place of which they might have no memory.

This decision targets millions of hardworking people who were brought here as young children and know no country but America as their home. DACA recipients are our neighbors, friends, and colleagues. They are students, doctors, engineers, and leaders in our military who are dedicated to our nation. Just this week, we saw how far this dedication goes when Alonso Guillén, a DACA recipient, tragically lost his life while rescuing people stranded in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. America was built on the hard work of immigrants and our diversity is part of the foundation of our nation. Unlike the President, I will not abandon the nearly 800,000 DREAMers who have put their trust in our government and who contribute to our society every day.

This decision is another manifestation of the President’s anti-immigrant rhetoric that has emboldened hatred, racism, and bigotry. Following last month’s pardon of Joe Arpaio, who built his career on targeting and tormenting Latinos, today’s announcement shows that the President will continue this divisive and unconscionable pattern. It is insulting for him to use the rule of law as justification for ending DACA when he rapidly pardoned a man who routinely violated the rights of Latinos and ignored the directives of the court.

It is long past time for Congress to step up and protect the thousands of families that will be torn apart because of the President’s indefensible decision. We must pass legislation to ensure DACA recipients are protected and work to create comprehensive immigration reform to fix our broken immigration system in a way that treats those coming to this country in search for a better life with dignity and respect. I want to repeat my commitment to the nearly 800,000 DREAMers and their families who have been heartlessly abandoned by the Executive Branch.”



House Representative Adam Smith (D-WA, 9th)

"Ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is irresponsible and contradicts who we are as Americans. DACA provides deportation relief to almost 800,000 immigrants, nearly 18,000 of who live in Washington state. These immigrant youth, known as DREAMers, represent a generation of immigrants who were brought to our country as children, through no fault of their own. Today, DREAMers are actively pursuing the American dream in many fields, including serving as members of the Armed Forces, and becoming teachers and doctors. President Trump’s decision to end DACA breaks our country’s promise of deportation relief to these law-abiding immigrant youth. This decision will only serve to tear families apart and undermine the important contributions of these young people to our country and our economy.

"I am committed to supporting immigrant youth and keeping families together, and will fight with my colleagues in Congress, along with Governor Inslee and Attorney General Ferguson in Washington state to defend DACA. In response to the President’s failure of leadership in ending DACA, Congress must keep our country’s promise to DREAMers and stay true to our American values."



House Representative Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska, 3rd)

“President Trump is correct – the DACA program violated the separation of powers established by our Constitution and should never have been created through executive action. This and many other aspects of our broken immigration system, such as border security, have gone too long without being addressed. Congress and the President must come together to create strong, permanent immigration policies rooted in the rule of law.”



House Representative Jason Smith (R-MO, 8th)

"I look forward to working in a bipartisan fashion with my colleagues in the House and Senate to craft a humane legislative solution to protect individuals brought to the U.S. as children and at the same time advancing important reforms in our broken immigration system."



House Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX, 21st)

“Today President Trump delivered on his promise to the American people. He said he would discontinue DACA, which allows hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to stay in the country and gives them work permits.

“By ending the unconstitutional DACA program he has overturned the last of the Obama Administration’s amnesty agenda and returned to the rule of law. President Obama, a former Constitutional law professor, said many times that DACA was unconstitutional. Congress and the administration should strengthen our laws against illegal immigration and ensure that our immigration policies put unemployed Americans first. The U.S. labor participation rate is at a 40 year low.

“President Trump is right not to continue the DACA program and to force Congress to address immigration policies, including securing the border.”



House Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA, 16th)

“I have had countless discussions with DREAMers in Pennsylvania who are active and positive residents of our commonwealth. I agree with President Trump’s administration that there should be a legislative solution instead of a DHS directive that was never intended to be a permanent fix.”



House Representative Chris Stewart (R-UT, 2nd)

“While well intentioned, the way the Obama administration went about enacting DACA was unconstitutional. Authority to alter immigration law clearly only lies within the purview of Congress. Nonetheless, I believe that we must protect those individuals who came to this country as children. I’m a cosponsor of two pieces of legislation that will continue to protect children of undocumented immigrants. These include the BRIDGE Act and the ENLIST Act. These bills bar the removal of individuals who were brought here under the age of 15 that are currently pursuing education, have recently graduated, or are serving in the armed forces. I look forward to Congress authorizing a long-term, legislative solution to this important and pressing problem.”



House Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH, 15th)

"Today's announcement puts the power back with Congress, where it belongs. Congress has six months to take action to create a permanent, legal and orderly immigration system - which includes addressing DACA recipients.

“While we are a nation of immigrants, we are also a nation of laws. Moving forward, I support a legislative solution to fix our broken immigration system and facilitate economic growth."



House Representative Mark Takano (D-CA, 41st)

“President Trump’s decision to end the DACA program is a case study in cruelty and cowardice. If the president believes – like a vast majority of Americans – that law-abiding and productive young immigrants should not be thrown out of the country, then he should have stood by the DACA program. Instead, nearly one million young people will be forced to live in fear of the future because President Trump lives in fear of upsetting the extreme ideologues in his base.

“Dreamers are our co-workers, classmates, and neighbors. Their families are here. They have built their lives here. For many of these young people, America is the only country they have ever called home. Turning our backs on Dreamers is a stain on America’s conscience and an affront to common decency. It is un-American.

“Ending DACA will also severely damage our economy. More than 90 percent of the young immigrants protected through the DACA program are in the workforce. They strengthen our communities, contribute to our economy, and embody the power of immigration to support American prosperity. This decision could cost California $11 billion every year, according to a study by the Center for American Progress.

“Republicans in Congress have expressed support for DACA kids with their words, but not through their actions. Now is their chance to do what is right. Congress must stand with these young people and demonstrate that – at its heart – America is a fair, strong, and compassionate nation.”



House Representative Scott Taylor (R VA, 2nd)

While benevolent and well intended, it was illegal for President Obama to create this program; a President does not create laws. Therefore, President Trump is right to put the authority back into the hands of Congress. I believe Congress should create, negotiate, and pass a law protecting those in this stateless limbo, which should contain disincentives to future illegal immigrants from attempting the same and border security measures. There are DACA recipients who are as American as myself. Americans do not punish children for their parents' sins. Under this Congress and this President we have returned to proper immigration enforcement and significantly reduced border crossings. Now is our time in Congress to lead with justice, mercy, and compassion on this issue.



House Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS, 2nd)

"Just when you thought this President and his craven Administration couldn't stoop any lower, they now go after the most vulnerable. This is an atrocious and heartless decision to end a program that gave hope to nearly a million, brought them out of the shadows, and allowed them to contribute to the only country they know. It is truly sad that we have a severely unpopular President that all too often is unable to do the right thing and refuses to show his face to defend this mean-spirited decision. He should be focusing on real homeland security matters and getting dangerous criminals off our streets rather than throwing red meat to his base. This will do nothing to improve national security and will only cause more chaos and break up families.”

“Congress must quickly come together, in bipartisan force, to stop this President and permanently protect those that came to this country under no fault of their own and are now a part of our society and economy. Democrats will stand firm together to protect DREAMers and Republicans must show they are willing to do the same. Denying them protection not only runs against our values and damages the economy, but will be permanent stain on our history."



House Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA, 5th)

“I strongly condemn President Trump’s decision to end the DACA initiative, creating fear and confusion for the 800,000 DREAMers in the United States.

“DREAMers embody and practice the best of our American values: hard work, patriotism, and action. They are our neighbors, colleagues, soldiers, educators, engineers, doctors, and entrepreneurs. They are as much a part of our communities and collective American story as any one of us.

“I urge President Trump to reconsider this decision and act to defend DREAMers as he’s previously promised to do. As a Member of Congress, I will continue to do everything I can to protect DREAMers, including calling on House Republicans to bring the DREAM Act to the Floor for a vote.”



House Representative Pat Tiberi (R-OH, 12th)

“President Obama’s unconstitutional DACA program was one of the most egregious examples of his executive overreach. The Trump administration’s decision to phase out DACA is good news for the rule of law.

“As the son of immigrants who legally came to the United States from Italy, I have seen the success story of legal immigration firsthand. In order to ensure this country remains a beacon of hope we must adhere to the Constitution, which empowers Congress to write immigration laws, not the executive branch. Congress has six months to act. This is an opportunity for us to identify needed solutions that are fair and orderly for Dreamers who didn’t choose to break our laws and know no other home than America.”



House Representative Scott Tipton (R-CO, 3rd)

“President Obama circumvented the Constitution when he unilaterally created the DACA program without going through the legislative process. Today’s announcement by Attorney General Sessions shows this administration’s commitment to the rule of law. While I do not support the unilateral DACA program, I believe Congress must act to develop a compassionate and commonsense solution for the children who were brought to the United States illegally by their parents. These individuals have grown up in the United States and are now upstanding, valued members of our communities. They should not be punished for a decision that was made by their parents years ago.”



House Representative Paul D. Tonko (D-NY, 20th)

Earlier today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump Administration will move forward with ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. I strongly oppose this decision.

Ending DACA is inhumane and un-American. This hurts our economy, damages our standing as a leading nation, and betrays nearly 800,000 young people who have known no other home than America.

I was proud to vote for the DREAM Act when it came before Congress in 2010. I have openly supported Senate efforts to advance comprehensive immigration reform. While I strongly disagree with President Trump’s decision to imperil the fate of hundreds of thousands of dreamers for the sake of scoring political points, I now call on my colleagues in Congress to fix this mess by taking up legislation to protect dreamers and passing it without delay.

Whatever your politics on immigration, these "dreamers" did not choose their birthplace or their path. They have grown up going to school with our children and they share our values and our principles. They believe in the American dream. With hard work and commitment, they have become nurses, doctors, engineers, leaders in their fields and advocates for the voiceless. They are joining the ranks of innovators and job creators powering the U.S. economy and creating opportunity for all Americans.

A just nation does not take lightly the judgment of innocents. Let us not discard our friends and our neighbors for the sake of political theater, not when we can instead draw strength of heart and mind and treasure from their experience, their differences, and the many values we share in common.

E Pluribus Unum.



House Representative Norma Torres (D-CA, 35th)

“Todays’ announcement is a betrayal of American values and a needless attack on thousands of hardworking young people who want nothing more than an opportunity to contribute to this country. 800,000 young people have benefited from DACA. These are not faceless names – they are our neighbors, our friends, our family. They own businesses in our community and go to school with our children. Perhaps most disturbingly – those who enrolled in the DACA program did so voluntarily and took the word of the federal government in exchange for coming out of the shadows. Rescinding the DACA program will mean breaking our word to these brave young people.

“DACA was never meant as a permanent fix to our nation’s broken immigration system, but as a common sense measure to direct our federal resources to where they are needed most. However, President Trump has shown no ability or desire to get us any closer to fixing the problems we know must be addressed and has instead chosen to rally his base while weakening our national security by wasting resources on breaking up families.

“Now is the time for all Americans to come together and make it clear to President Trump that we will not turn our back on our neighbors. It is the responsibility of Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to protect Dreamers and begin fixing our broken immigration system. I urge Speaker Ryan and Republicans in Congress to take this up immediately. There is no reason to wait.”



House Representative Fred Upton (R-MI, 6th)

“For these young men and women, the United States is their home. They’ve been raised in our neighborhoods, attended our schools, served in our military, and worked in our communities. I’ve met with countless concerned individuals impacted by DACA and heard from local universities, restaurant and small business owners, as well as my farmer friends who all agree we must take care of these folks. This is why I’ve long-supported using a compassionate but accountable way to legislatively address these undocumented minors brought to our country through no fault of their own.

“Rather than executive order, it is the responsibility of Congress to work together on fair, rigorous, and bipartisan legislation that addresses the long-term uncertainty facing these young people. To that end, I have already co-sponsored two bills that represent common-sense ways to address DACA. In the coming weeks and months I will continue to work with anyone to fix our long-broken immigration system and to give certainty to Dreamers who know no country but America.”



House Representative David Valadao (R-CA, 21st)

"For years, Congress has failed to repair our broken immigration system. However, in light of the President’s announcement, Congress must come together within the next six months to reach a legislative solution.

I will continue to advocate on behalf of dreamers. America is the only home these young people know and I will do everything in my power to ensure those who were brought to the United States through no fault of their own are not unjustly punished."

Since being elected to Congress, Congressman Valadao has remained dedicated to repairing the broken immigration system of the United States. His personal connection to immigration, combined with the serious impact policy change will have on his constituents, have provided Valadao with a deep understanding of the issue, especially as it relates to agriculture and our guest worker program.

In 2013, Valadao was one of only three Republicans to support an immigration reform package, H.R. 15; the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. In 2015, he voted against a defense bill amendment which sought to block undocumented youth from serving in the military. Most recently, Valadao cosponsored H.R. 496, the Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy (BRIDGE) Act and H.R. 1468, the Recognizing America’s Children (RAC) Act which provides a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children.



House Representative Juan Vargas (D-CA, 51st)

“President Trump is advancing his extremist, anti-immigrant agenda by terminating the DACA program and breaking a promise our country made to nearly 800,000 DREAMers.

“Before DACA, young people brought to this country as children were forced to live in the shadows with the fear of being separated from their families and deported from the country they call home. DACA gave these DREAMers an opportunity to step forward with hope, go through a background check process, and have the ability to work legally, get an education, serve the country they love, and make many positive contributions to their communities.

“By terminating DACA, President Trump is undermining a successful program and ignoring bipartisan efforts to support DREAMers. The President and his Administration are betraying the values that make America great and turning the lives of families across the country into a nightmare. Congress must act and pass legislation that will protect these young people from a President who is attempting to put an end to their American dream.”



House Representative Marc Veasey (D-TX, 33rd)

“President Trump has made it perfectly clear that he is more than willing to sacrifice the immigrant community to appease his nativist base. His latest decision to end the successful DACA program will uproot the lives of nearly 800,000 young immigrants, including the over 200,000 young Texans who have been able to peacefully work, study, and contribute to our economy since the program’s start. The DREAMers I have spoken with all share that their DACA status changed their lives for the better and allowed them to better participate in the only country they’ve ever called home.

America will feel President Trump’s decision to turn his backs on talented and hardworking young people for years to come. The end of DACA means young people will start to lose jobs, leave colleges and universities, and once again be forced back into the shadows. Families will scramble to move from addresses contained in DACA applications and businesses across the country will begin to lose valued employees. Texas alone can expect a $6.2 billion loss annually as DACA workers are removed from the work force.

DREAMers are Americans in all senses of the word, except on paper. They are our children’s classmates, our neighbors, and have worked alongside us to make our country an even better place. President Trump should be ashamed that he has chosen to trample on the American Dream in favor of slamming the door of opportunity in the face of some of our nation’s brightest. I remain committed to standing up alongside my fellow House Democrats as we fight to keep families together.”



House Representative Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY, 7th)

“The President previously said that Dreamers have little reason to worry because he has a ‘big heart.’ Today’s decision belies that statement and makes clear the callous and hateful ideology that is driving this Administration’s policies.

“800,000 young Americans now face the threat of deportation. And, yes, these are Americans. Many of them have known no other home. Some of them speak only English and many came here when they were so young that they cannot even remember the journey. Their parents brought them here in search of a better life, seeking that simple, but uniquely American compact – the promise that America is the land of opportunity, where anyone with a dream and the right talent and perseverance can succeed. Today, Donald Trump has turned his back on that proud tradition.

“Not only is this decision a moral affront, but this policy, if it takes effect, will cause billions of dollars of economic damage. It is telling that business leaders from a range of sectors have united in opposition DACA’s rescission.

“Where the President has failed to show moral leadership, Congress must step forward. In coming weeks, I will be working with my Democratic colleagues to push the Republican Leadership to allow for an up-or-down vote on a clean ‘DREAM Act’, so these young people – the face of America – are protected.”



House Representative Greg Walden (R-OR, 2nd)

"I’ve long been a supporter of stronger security on America’s borders -- countries that do not have control of their borders do not have control of their national security. That is what will lead us to much-needed immigration reform, and it is vital to fixing our broken system.

America’s legal immigration system, like other federal bureaucracies, is in need of reform. The current system does not work, and it is past time for Congress to act on this issue.

Like all Americans, I have compassion for those who entered our country unlawfully as children and are now in limbo in our immigration system. These are kids who know no other country as their home and were brought here through no fault of their own at a young age. It is up to Congress to find a permanent solution.

I appreciate that President Trump recognizes the need for Congress to act to address this problem. As we move forward, I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and the administration to secure our borders and fix our flawed immigration system."



House Representative Jackie Walorski (R-IN, 2nd)

“President Obama clearly exceeded his executive authority in creating the DACA program, and now President Trump is restoring the proper constitutional role of the legislative and executive branches. Our immigration system is broken, and we have an opportunity to address this issue, secure our borders, and strengthen enforcement. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the president to find a long-term, commonsense solution.”



House Representative MiMi Walters (R-CA, 45th)

“The Constitution mandates that Congress, not the President, write the laws. DACA, while well intentioned, was an unconstitutional abuse of executive power. Our Nation and our government cannot function unless we uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.

"It is now up to Congress to develop a permanent legislative solution to provide certainty to the young people who were brought to America as children without the proper documents through no fault of their own. America is the only home most of these young people have ever known and it is unjust to punish them for the actions of their parents. Congress should work to ensure their residency so that they can continue to contribute to our community and strengthen our Nation.”



House Representative Timothy J. Walz (D-MN, 1st)

“Today’s announcement does not reflect the values of our nation. Let me be clear: these children are Americans. This is their home. Deporting DREAMers, who contribute much to our society, harms our economy and our moral fabric,” said Rep. Tim Walz. “Congress must act. I call on Speaker Ryan and my Republican colleagues, some of whom have already expressed their support for DACA, to act immediately. This moment requires them to put their country and human decency over politics and I stand ready to work with them.”



House Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL, 23rd)

“President Trump’s heartless, cowardly decision to eliminate the DACA program will spread anxiety and chaos throughout communities across the nation. It is yet another cruel, unnecessary and divisive policy move by this White House. Instead of providing promise, stability and opportunity to millions of young people, Trump has done the opposite, and made the American dream more elusive for those who have already given so much to this nation. DREAMers have served in our armed services, rescued Harvey victims, studied with our children in classrooms, and for years worked and played in our neighborhoods. Republicans have left DREAMers twisting in the wind for too long. Speaker Paul Ryan must bring legislation advancing a pathway to citizenship to a floor vote this week, and remove this cloud of uncertainty and distress Trump has placed over the lives of hundreds of thousands of families.”



House Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ, 12th)

“This Administration’s announcement to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy flies in the face of our nation’s values and interests, breaks the promise we made to thousands of families and undermines the programs proven nationwide benefits. Instead of making a true and concerted effort at immigration reform, the President sent Attorney General Sessions to the podium to break his promise to the over 800,000 men and women who only know this country as home.

This is a betrayal of the men and women who make up the fabric of this nation - the over 800,000 young people who are doctors, teacher and public servants. People like Alonso Guillen who gave his life trying to rescue victims of damages caused by Hurricane Harvey in Houston. This Administration isn’t interested in the invaluable contributions DREAMers make to our economy and communities, but instead, is focused on rallying the xenophobic base that fuels the flames of their discrimination.

The onslaught of injustice continues under this President and it is imperative that Congress does not sit idly by while this Administration continues to trample upon American values. The time for the tweets and empty statements is over. I am ready to work with my Republican colleagues on creating permanent protections for DREAMers. Republican House leadership must bring the DREAM Act to the floor for a vote. Hundreds of thousands of lives depend on it.”



House Representative Bruce Westerman (R AR, 4th)

“No matter how compassionate its intent, President Obama’s creation of DACA was a clear violation of our separation of powers,” Westerman said. “As Attorney General Sessions said today, the Justice Department could not make a clear and compelling defense for an executive action that was outside the Constitutional authority granted to the President. Congress writes our nation’s laws and President Trump has tasked us with addressing this issue in coming months as he winds down the DACA program. It is my hope that we construct a fair and just legislative solution to this issue that affects many aspects of our society and many people who live here.”

House Representative Frederica Wilson (D-FL, 24th)

“President Trump’s decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in my view crosses a moral red line and is an antithesis to our nation’s values. Stripping hope and opportunity from the nearly 800,000 DREAMers who were brought to here as children is unconscionable. They are American in every way but one; for many, the United States is the only home they know. Rather than hide in the shadows, they went through a lengthy process to get permission to live and work legally in the United States. Many are students, while others have chosen to serve in the military to help keep our nation safe. Breaking our promise to them turns their dreams into a collective nightmare and hurts not just them, but also the American economy. Florida, for example, will lose nearly 30,000 workers and $1,524,721,538 in state GDP if the program ends.

“The president’s decision to begin deporting DACA recipients in six months is both cruel and unnecessary. I urge the Republican leadership in Congress to bring the DREAM Act to the floor for a vote as soon as possible. It’s the right thing to do.”

House Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC, 2nd)

“I stand with President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions' decision for termination of the unconstitutional DACA program, which is a threat to American jobs.”

“President Trump is courageously acting in accordance with the Constitution and living up to his campaign promise to follow the law. This step by the Trump Administration will create additional jobs for American families.”

House Representative Steve Womack (R-AR, 3rd)

“The issue of DACA-eligible young people is a manifestation of a broken immigration enforcement system. I have a heart for their plight. At the same time, I believe that part of the genius of America is that we are a nation of laws. The President is right; Congress has the responsibility to address this issue and now is the time to do so. With thoughtful debate, jobs can be protected, lawful immigration can be championed, and the proper relief can come for the young people who know only America as their country and who continue to work hard to achieve that American dream.”

House Representative Robert Woodall (R-GA, 7th)

"Laws can only be made by the President and the Congress working together. That is what the Constitution requires. President Obama's ‘go it alone’ approach was always going to end with the anxiety that DACA participants are experiencing today, and I applaud President Trump for committing to work with Congress on real, permanent solutions."

House Representative John A. Yarmuth (D-KY, 3rd)

“President Trump’s decision to terminate the DACA program and upend the lives of more than 800,000 innocent young people—nearly all of whom have never called any country home but the United States of America—is cruel, inhumane, and harmful to us all. These are people who were brought here as children, played by the rules, and earned diplomas. They contribute to their communities and participate in a workforce that wants and needs them. Denying them the opportunity to continue to live the only lives they know and to tear them away from their families simply to placate the savage demands of political extremists is morally bankrupt. These young people did everything asked of them. If we want to be a country that lives by our ideals, that rewards merit and hard work, it is our obligation to reject the president's heartless decision."

House Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS, 3rd)

"I have great sympathy for minors that were illegally brought to the United States through no fault of their own and who know no other country than the United States of America. We are a nation of immigrants. Yet, we are also a nation that values the rule of law, and President Obama’s DACA order was an unconstitutional abuse of executive authority. The Administration is right to restore proper balance of powers under our Constitution.

"I opposed President Obama's ‘temporary stopgap measure’ as he called it five years ago - in which he said ‘this is not amnesty, this is not immunity, this is not a path to citizenship’ - because it would leave many undocumented immigrants in limbo, with no real status. That has now proven to be the case.

"While the program may have been conceived with good intentions, it has served as a magnet, bringing tens of thousands of new immigrants, exacerbating our illegal immigration challenges, and creating a humanitarian crisis at the border.

"The President has given Congress a six-month window to act on immigration reform, and that's exactly what we should do. We must secure our borders, repair our broken visa program, and provide needed reforms and certainty and stability for minors. We must pursue policies that are both compassionate and restore the rule of law in our country.

"I do not favor deporting 'dreamers' but their status is a decision that can only be made by an act of Congress and should be one that improves our legal immigration process and secures our border. Otherwise we will be left with a piecemeal mess, which is what we have on our hands today.”

House Representative Ted Yoho (R-FL, 3rd)

“The president’s decision to suspend the DACA program after a period of six months is the right thing to do. For decades Washington has failed to address our broken immigration system. For too long Washington has looked the other way and not enforced the existing laws on the books and it has created a complete mess. President Obama’s actions were an abuse of his executive authority and went around the legislative branch. Congress writes the laws, and it is the Executive Branch’s duty to make sure they are faithfully executed.

“For those who came to the United States as children and to no fault of their own, I support a window of time for them to come forward and identify themselves without fear of deportation. I support providing a way for Dreamers who have registered under DACA with DHS to obtain legal status. Such legislation should go hand-in-hand with measures that reduce illegal immigration.

“Congress now has six months to work collectively on a legislative solution that will fix this problem and shield Dreamers from deportation. We owe it to them and all Americans to fix this once and for all.”

House Representative David Young (R-IA, 3rd)

"America is not about one color, one ethnicity or one faith. America is a compassionate nation built on the foundation of self-government, the rule of law, freedom, and the liberties and rights given in our Constitution.

President Obama acknowledged his limited Constitutional authority with his executive order creating DACA. It is now up to Congress to address this matter and other issues related to immigration - from enforcement to employment practices to securing our borders. These are the powers afforded to Congress, not the President, by the Constitution."

House Representative Don Young (R-Alaska)

“The Obama administration’s unilateral actions on immigration, including DACA, undermined the role of Congress and were in complete violation of the Constitution. President Obama stated on numerous occasions that he did not have the power or authority to take additional actions on immigration, yet he did so after Congress chose not to deliver what he wanted, when he wanted.

“Rewriting our immigration laws through Executive Order, as was done under DACA, is not acceptable. These decisions must receive the approval of Congress. Now that President Trump has overturned this Obama-era order, I believe it’s Congress’ responsibility to address our nation’s broken immigration system, including the legal status of those who were brought to our nation through no fault of their own. Regardless of your viewpoint on the underlying policy, all Americans’ should agree these decisions need to be made by Congress and not by the Executive Branch.”

Lee Zeldin (R-NY, 1st)Lee Zeldin (R-NY, 1st)

"The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy was started by the Obama administration in June 2012, allowing illegal immigrants who entered our country as minors to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit.

If the Obama administration wanted to implement the DACA program, it should have made the case to Congress and try to pass it's proposal into law. The administration absolutely did not have the authority to write it's own 'laws'. If the proposal did not have the support to pass then it should not go into effect. That is how our process is designed and must be respected.

I support legal immigration. I oppose illegal immigration. If you want to come to America and pursue the American dream, follow the rules. If you commit a crime and are deported, don't come back. Every nation's backbone is it's rule of law. It is great to pursue the American dream and to consider yourself a 'dreamer' and everyone in the United States legally should consider themselves 'dreamers', but you have to follow our laws. Period. We should not reward or excuse criminal behavior.

Many find the situation related to minors illegally in our country to be the most challenging. Many of these children involuntarily came to our country very young, have been here for a long time, go through our education system, love our country and are looking to stay here and greatly contribute to our economy and nation's future. What I struggle with the most is how you can possibly allow someone illegally in our country to be given preference over someone who is not in our country solely, because that individual abroad is following the rules and respecting our laws and as a result they are not yet here.

I am completely open to a debate in Congress and among the American people on how to strengthen immigration laws in our country. The system is flawed as evidenced by the number of people currently in our country illegally as well as the preferences, protections and benefits awarded to people who are here illegally. My priority will always unapologetically remain with fighting for the people following the laws, rather than the ones breaking them. We can debate with each other who has our priorities set better until we are blue in the face, but that is where my heart, energy and commitment remains.

As far as how to tackle this massive issue, when you have a leak, are you someone who turns off the faucet first or cleans up the leak first? I'm someone who believes that you should turn off the faucet first. We absolutely should attempt to completely resolve the challenges associated with all of the many millions of Americans who are in our country illegally, but not first without ensuring that the challenge doesn't multiply despite anyone's best of intentions to do what in their heart they truly believe is right. I can think of various circumstances where deportation won't be the solution, but a blanket rewarding and incentivizing of bad behavior is going to lead to even more abuse of our immigration system by others.

We must secure the entry process into our country and strengthen interior enforcement. We should pursue common ground on what at all to do with people who are already in our country illegally, but proposals that recklessly actually increase the amount of people in our country illegally and incentivize disrespecting and abusing our laws on the books should not be supported. Let's pursue policies that incentivize respecting and honoring our laws on the books, not the other way around. Let's pursue solutions that better secure our entry process and strengthen interior enforcement so that agreements on what to do with people in our country illegally truly results responsibly in less people in our country illegally over time and not more.

I am very much willing to work with any of my colleagues on either side of the aisle on this issue and others to find common ground however possible. I would also strongly encourage anyone on the opposite side of this debate to keep to themselves the character assassinations, name calling, partisan threats and over the top sound bite spin, because if you truly want to work out an agreement for progress, that is absolutely not at all how to get there. Working together productively and substantively, I am hugely confident that long overdue progress can absolutely be achieved at least in part to move the needle more in the right direction."