THE DAILY WHIP: THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

H.Res. 649 – Rule providing for consideration of H.Res. 639 – Authorizing the Speaker to appear as amicus curiae on behalf of the House of Representatives in the matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al. (Rep. Ryan (WI) – Rules) (One hour of debate). The Rules Committee has recommended a closed Rule that provides for one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Rules. The Rule allows one motion to recommit and waives all points of order against the resolution. Members are urged to VOTE NO.

H.Res. 639– Authorizing the Speaker to appear as amicus curiae on behalf of the House of Representatives in the matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al. (Rep. Ryan (WI) – Rules) (One hour of debate).  This resolution would allow the Speaker to file an amicus brief on behalf of the House of Representatives in the case U.S. v Texas.  In this case, Texas and twenty-five other states maintain that President Obama’s creation of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program and expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program were an unlawful overreach of his Executive Powers.

The Administration and the Secretary of Homeland Security have the legal authority to take these actions under the Constitution.  In fact, every President for over half a century, Democrat and Republican, has taken executive action on immigration. Most prominently, Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush created the Family Fairness Program which was estimated to protect in excess of 1 million undocumented immigrants. 

In June of 2013, the Senate passed a bipartisan overhaul of our nation’s immigration system by a vote of 68-23.  That vote can be found here.  The bipartisan Senate comprehensive immigration reform bill would have provided security for families and an earned pathway to citizenship.  It also would have reduced our deficit by nearly $1 trillion.  Instead of taking action on this commonsense, bipartisan, fiscally responsible plan, House Republicans did nothing.  

Not only do House Republicans continue to waste millions of taxpayer dollars on frivolous lawsuits ($2.3 million spent defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)), political witch-hunts ($3.3 million spent on the Select Committee on Benghazi), and fruitless efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (the House has held 63 votes to repeal or undermine the law), they are using this resolution to fill time on the legislative schedule because they have no constructive plans to help the American people. 

It is time for House Republicans to stop wasting taxpayer dollars and valuable time on these misaligned priorities and fruitless political stunts.  Instead of spending time and energy on this resolution, House Republicans should work with Democrats on a responsible solution to fix our broken immigration system. Members are urged to VOTE NO.

Bill Text for H.Res. 639:
PDF Version