clear the air

A group primarily of first-term Members of the House of Representatives -- 10 Democrats and 12 Republicans -- has just now introduced a House resolution that would commit the chamber to oppose any mass amnesty.

H. Res. 1026 The Chaffetz/Kratovil No-Amnesty Bill Please go to your Action Board now to send a fax to your own U.S. Representative. You will find a fax that either thanks your Representative for co-sponsoring the anti-amnesty resolution or that asks your Representative to sign on. (However, those of you with a Representative who has already co-sponsored a pro-amnesty bill won't see a new fax.)

Until this resolution, voters have not been able to know which Members of Congress they can count on to oppose a mass legalization of some 12 million illegal aliens. We have been able to know the hundred or so Members of Congress who aggressively are pushing on amnesty because they have co-sponsored amnesty bills. But when a Member who hasn't co-sponsored an amnesty says he/she is against an amnesty, we haven't really known what that means. NOW, THOUGH, WE CAN LOOK TO THIS ANTI-AMNESTY RESOLUTION (H. RES. 1026) TO FIND THE NAMES OF THE MEMBERS WE CAN TRULY TRUST TO VOTE 'NO' ON ANY AMNESTY.

This is a great immediate followup to the election of a no-amnesty Senator from Massachusetts who is filling a seat that has promoted amnesties and foreign-worker increases for 45 years. This effort is being led by two freshmen, Rep. Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Rep. Kratovil (D-Maryland). Other Democrats who are original No-Amnesty co-sponsors are Reps. Nye (Va.), Kagen (Wis.), Murphy (Pa.), Barrow (Ga.), Bright (Ala.), Taylor (Miss.), McIntyre (N.C.), Shuler (N.C.) and Childers (Miss.) Other Republicans signing are Reps. Hunter (Calif.), Jenkins (Kan.), Luetkemeyer (Mo.), Olson (Texas), Fleming (La.), Lummis (Wyoming), Coffman (Colo.), McClintock (Calif.), Posey (Fla.), Roe (Tenn.), Harper (Miss.).

The filing of this resolution means that no Member of Congress can stay on the fence on amnesty now. Either the Members sign on to this No-Amnesty bill, or they signal that they are keeping open the possibility that they will vote FOR an amnesty if one comes up. BILL INCLUDES MANDATORY E-VERIFY AND BORDER SECURITY The short bill has three parts that commit the House of Representatives to: Mandatory E-Verify for all employers for all employees to keep illegal aliens out of U.S. jobs. Infrastructure and manpower to effectively secure and control U.s. borders. NO Amnesty.

The precise language can be read in the story on our home page. The language about amnesty is simply: ". . . any immigration reform proposal adopted by Congress should not legalize, grant amnesty for, or confer any other legal status condoning the otherwise unlawful entry or presence in the United States of any individual."

Here is the statement of Rep. Kratovil (D-Maryland): As a former prosecutor, I am committed to the rule of law. I came to Congress to fight for a common sense approach on immigration reform: enforcing the rules already on the books, punishing those who knowingly choose to violate them, and opposing any plans that reward or incentivize illegal behavior at the expense of those who are trying to play by the rules. This bipartisan resolution recognizes the critical role that legal immigrants have played in our society and lays out the principles that should guide any discussion of immigration reform. I am pleased to join Representatives Chaffetz, Nye, and Hunter as a lead on this important measure.

Statement of Rep. Chaffetz (R-Utah) who got to Congress by defeating the pro-amnesty Republican leader Rep. Cannon in a primary election: Our government has a duty and responsibility to make our first immigration priority the enforcement of existing laws by ensuring that illegal behavior is punished, not rewarded. Any discussion of comprehensive immigration reform must begin with a renewed commitment to enforce our immigration laws. We need to remove the incentives that encourage illegal behavior if we expect to get immigration under control. OK, fellow Americans, let's get your Representative signed onto this bill!