Floor Statements

Mr. President, last night the President of the United States addressed the Nation on the need to fix a broken immigration system, the focus of that speech last night being on securing the borders. The President was very clear on the fact that our borders have to be secure, we have to stop the hemorrhaging of people coming across- the-border for an immigration plan to really work. I applaud the President's leadership on this important issue, this pressing issue, especially because we are in the middle of this debate on the floor of the Senate. I support the proposal in terms of turning to the National Guard as a short-term, an interim, stopgap measure to secure our borders because anything we do does take time.

The President outlined the progress that has been made over the last 4 to 5 years on the border. Yet the problem gets worse and worse, in spite of the fact that we do have more people on the border. Our infrastructure is getting better, and we are building barriers. The fact is, as the President said last night, our borders are out of control, and we are failing the American people until we bring them back under control. Our border agents down there are stretched too far. They are overstretched. Technology has not been fully applied to the degree that it should be. Each year we have millions of undocumented immigrants, illegal immigrants once they cross that border, who come across the southern border and indeed our other borders as well.

We catch more than we did in the past, but the numbers coming are increasing even faster than the numbers

we catch, and far too many escape detection, and then, unfortunately, because of a catch-and-release program which is not working to the degree it should, as the President mentioned last night, they are then released into the country.

We need to beef up the electronic surveillance and physical barriers where appropriate. Bottom line, we need to stop the hemorrhaging, and the President laid out a five-point plan very specifically last night, as to how we might do that. The reality of his remarks last night is that we are debating that very issue on the floor and this body must act, and will act, over the next 9 or 10 days to secure those borders and further the comprehensive immigration reform plan that addresses the issue of security and enforcement at the workplace, a strong temporary worker program, and addressing--a lot of the amendments will focus on this--the situation of 12 million people who are here illegally.

Our supplemental appropriations bill we passed a few weeks ago included almost $2 billion to repair fences in high-traffic areas, to replace broken Border Patrol aircraft for lower traffic areas, and for supporting training of additional customs and Border Protection agents. We paid for this additional spending by cuts in other areas. The Senate--and we will hear this debated over the next several days--is near consensus on putting nearly 15,000 new border security agents in the field over the next 6 years.

We are taking action. We are taking control. But these changes are going to take time. It is not a matter of just money, it is a matter of training and support and applying that technology. That is why I strongly support the President's proposal last night of sending a contingent of National Guardsmen now as an interim measure.

But that is an interim measure, and securing our border is only one part--a very important part and many argue it is the most important part--of a comprehensive immigration reform plan that has to be tough, it has to be fair, and that does have to be comprehensive.

We started the debate once again yesterday, and we will continue today and throughout the course of this week. I am confident that by staying focused under the leadership of our tremendous managers, Chairman Specter and Ranking Member Leahy, we will be able to pass a bipartisan comprehensive plan before Memorial Day.

I, also, thank Senators Hagel and Martinez for their determined efforts to bring consensus to the issue at hand. Under their leadership, we have developed, building on the work of others--namely, Senator McCain and Senator Kennedy--a fair, workable plan to help deal with each of the four components of the comprehensive immigration proposal, but most specifically to address the 12 million people who currently live in the United States illegally.

The overall approach deals with the diversity of this population. We know that 40 percent of these 12 million people have been here longer than 10 years. Many are fully assimilated into our society today. We know we can't give people who have broken the law a leg up in applying for American citizenship, but they must be treated fairly, must be treated compassionately, and that is what this bill intends to do. And it may be modified in making it even a little better over the next several days.

Law breakers should not be able to cut in line, as the President mentioned last night. People in this category need to be put at the end of the line.

I am confident that as we proceed with the debate, as long as we consider these amendments in a fair and open way, and we have that well underway today, we will have a comprehensive bill. Immigration is not a Republican issue, it is not a Democratic issue, it is a sensitive issue that touches on our values as a nation. We should not have to choose between respect for history as a country of immigrants with the respect for our laws. I am confident we will be able to pass this comprehensive plan in the days to come.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at noon today the Senate proceed to a vote in relation to the Isakson amendment, No. 3961, to be followed immediately by a vote in relation to the Salazar trigger amendment, which is at the desk; provided further that no second degrees be in order to either amendment prior to the votes and that all time after the judicial nomination vote and noon be equally divided in the usual form.

Mr. President, I join the minority leader in congratulating our colleague, Senator Levin, on his 10,000th vote. His 28-year tenure has been marked by vote after vote. It represents his integrity, his character, his leadership. He cast his vote in some of the most significant consequential debates of this country.

Senator Levin has been that tireless advocate for our military, our military

families. His work with Chairman Warner on our annual defense authorization bill provides that critical support for our troops in the form of both equipment and readiness. In 2004, the National Guard Association of the United States presented him with the Harry S. Truman Award for distinguished service in support of national defense. The awards go on and on and on. This is only one of the many awards he has received for his unflagging support of our military. I commend and thank Senator Levin for his tremendous contributions to this country and for his long and distinguished service to the people of Michigan.

(Applause, Senators rising.)

Vote on Amendment No. 3994

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period for morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk that is due for a second reading.

In order to place the bill on the calendar, under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to further proceeding.

Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for its second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 481, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 879, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment that is at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, May 17. I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and the Senate resume consideration of S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act.

Mr. President, today we have made some progress on the immigration bill. Tomorrow we will continue to work through this complex bill, starting with the Kyl-Cornyn amendment, which is the pending amendment. Senators can expect a vote on this amendment in the morning. I remind everyone again that we still have many amendments to consider and, therefore, I hope Senators will be reasonable and agree to short time agreements.

As a reminder, Senators who have amendments to offer should be working with the bill managers in order to have their amendments debated and considered. Senators can expect a full day tomorrow, with votes throughout the day. I would also say it will be necessary to schedule sessions into the night to consider additional amendments.

I hope we can make great progress during the daylight hours. But if we consume a lot of time on each amendment, it will be necessary to continue into the evening with votes. As we have talked about now for several weeks, it is important that we consider a large number of amendments, a broad range of amendments, many to each section of this bill. It will require the cooperation of all of our colleagues with this goal in mind.

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment as a further mark of respect for former Senator Chic Hecht.

Mr. President, this afternoon we begin consideration of S. 2611, a comprehensive immigration measure. Chairman Specter is here today to manage amendments to the bill. We have several Senators on this side of the aisle who have indicated they are prepared to pose their amendments during today's session. I encourage Members to come forward and bring their amendments to the managers just as soon as possible so that we will be able to consider them. Exactly how we handle amendments over the course of the afternoon, the Democratic leader and I and the chairman and managers will be discussing in a few minutes. We do expect a full session on the immigration bill today.

On Tuesday we have an order to have a rollcall vote at shortly after 10 o'clock on the confirmation of a circuit court nomination. I expect after that we would have some other votes that could be stacked and voted upon before our policy luncheons.

I do want to say, once again, that we need Senators to offer their amendments, to give us language on their amendments just as soon as possible. The debate itself will be fair, will be dignified. We have all agreed we want to be able to dispose of these amendments in a way that allows time for effective debate, whatever time is necessary for a debate, but that we would expect to be voting about every 2 hours--and that could go to 3 hours on some and could go to 10 minutes on others. But in order to consider the range and number of amendments that have been proposed, we do need people to come forward and we will deal with those accordingly.

This is an important bill. It is a bill that we have talked a lot about on the floor for a couple of weeks already. There has been much good discussion, both on and off the Senate floor. I think everybody has spent a lot more time with the bill and with the proposed amendments. Thus, I think we should be able to address the issue in a careful, deliberate way, a complete way, and finish this bill before Memorial Day.

It is an important bill. It is an important bill to our national security. It is an important bill to our values, to our economy, and to our safety.

I have a brief statement to make on another topic, but I turn to the Democratic leader, if there is any comment on scheduling, of course.

Mr. President, I am going to make a few comments on a separate issue. Then we will come straight back to the immigration bill and how we can best handle the debate over the course of today.

Mr. President, as I speak, on the west front of the Capitol Building we are observing the 25th National Peace Officers Memorial Service. Tribute is being paid to the 155 peace officers who lost their lives in the line of duty last year. The President spoke there moments ago, and is still there expressing his sympathy to the families who have lost loved ones.

It is always, each year, a solemn occasion. It is a sacred occasion. It reminds us of the huge sacrifices our law enforcement makes day in and day out on our behalf in our communities all across the country. Every day around the clock America's peace officers are on the front lines, protecting our lives, our homes, and our freedoms. On the front line, when we need someone to investigate a dark alley or quell a domestic dispute or subdue a criminal, it is these dedicated professionals who answer that call, who answer that need. Each time they take a risk, and they never know if that risk will be the last call they will make.

On August 8, 2005, when Tennessee Correctional Officer Wayne Thomas Morgan got ready for work, he couldn't know that it would be his last morning to say goodbye. At 10 a.m, during a routine prisoner transfer at the Roane County Courthouse, he was shot and killed. Prison nurse Jennifer Hyatte ambushed him as he and another guard escorted her husband, George Hyatte, from the courthouse to a prison van. From behind the wheel of her SUV, Jennifer drove into the parking lot, shot Officer Morgan three times, and fled the scene, escaping with her husband in the car.

The couple were arrested 36 hours later in Ohio. They now face trial on murder charges scheduled for later this year. It was an outrageous crime that shocked the Nation and shocked the close-knit Kingston community.

A deacon and choir member of the Meadowview Baptist Church, Officer Morgan was well known and much loved throughout his community. His funeral was attended by over 1,000 people, including law enforcement officers from seven States and Canada.

Bradley County Chief Deputy Bill Griffith said Officer Morgan's death ``reminds those of us in law enforcement that we put our lives on the line every day.''

Today, we echo those words as we pay tribute to our fallen heroes.

I would like to take just a moment to recognize Tennessee's own who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty last year: Officer Michael Keith Buckner, who served the Decherd Police Department and was killed in an automobile accident while returning from an investigation in a severe snowstorm. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

Trooper Todd Michael Larkins, who served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for 5 years, was struck and killed by a tractor trailer while conducting a vehicle stop. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

Correctional Officer Wayne Thomas Morgan, who served with the Tennessee Department of Correction for 28 years, is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

And Officer Kay Frances Rogers, a 15-year veteran who served with the Murfreesboro Police Department for 4 of those years, died of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. She is survived by her mother, three brothers, and three sisters.

Our hearts go out to these families, to friends and colleagues. And we bow our heads in recognition of their dedication, their sacrifice, and their courage.

As a Senator and an American citizen, I pledge to keep working on behalf of our Nation's peace officers.

In 2004, I cosponsored the Law Enforcement Safety Act, which the President signed into law. This legislation was the No. 1 priority for our Nation's law enforcement community. It is now law of the land. It allows current retired police officers to carry a concealed weapon in any of the 50 States. America now has the added security of tens of thousands of trained and certified law enforcement officers serving and protecting us across the country even into retirement.

There are more than 800,000 law enforcement officers serving communities all across America, the highest number ever.

Each of these officers is a hero. And each of these officers has a family who deserves our appreciation and gratitude for their service.

May God bless the brave women and men who swear to protect and serve us.