Transcripts For CSPAN Key Capitol Hill Hearings 20240622

Anywhere, people want to be able to test as quickly as possible to determine if the substance is anthrax or not. A large number of labs like to have this capability. I would like to add one thing. Because this was relieved to be inactivated, we were not intending to actually use laboratory staff. We were trying to grow new partners in technology. For that reason, they were trying to show that new technologies for detection and diagnostics against anthrax worked. We sent them an material to show them that their diagnostic testing worked. We were trying to grow the Technology Basis for our National Security. Some of the separate some of these were sent down to second and third laboratories . With who will you gather all of these things together, or will they be missing forever . Cdc is gathering all of these. Theyre completing that work. We will get to all of the laboratories that received a sample. It will just take some time. Some of the records are on paper. We are still going to go through paper records to make sure we have gotten everyone. I believe we will catch all of the labs. I cannot absolutely guarantee that. The cdc is conducting the secondary lab reviews. How did it happen. The failure to, for example the anthrax was a shipped to south korea . I am wondering, how did it happen . The second question is, do you have any measures to prevent failure again . It was an unintended delivery. The anthrax was believed to be inactivated and not alive unable to be grown. It went to an air force base in korea for testing there at a laboratory. This was a mistake. As the secretary said, it was a serious mistake and it should never have happened. We are taking the actions to correct it. I am a korean respondent. I understand it was a mistake everyone makes a mistake. But what would you say to those people. It was a possible violation of an international treaty. Like, at the biological weapon treaty. I am not aware that there was a violation of any agreement. There were certainly no intentional violation of any agreement. I am not a lawyer. I cannot tell you what the agreement says or how it affected it. I can tell you it was an error that happened for a variety of reasons that happened that we talked about. It was done to protect people in the case of an anthrax attack in korea, or anywhere else. Anthrax threats in the Korean Peninsula is that why it was sent there . We are concerned about terrorist groups. The threat is globally, for a variety of reasons. Are you going to resume the shipments to south korea, once the moratorium is lifted . Of right now, there is no intent to do that and i cannot speculate on that. Anything we do will be in consultation with the korean government. There is a task force right now working with the korean government to investigate the specific events. Go ahead. A brought these anthrax issues to you. What is your comment on that. I did not understand. The North Koreans [inaudible] i can say this was brought there for defensive reasons to test our ability to defend against bioterror. They give are much. Thank you very much. We will have live coverage starting tomorrow. The current chair and the next chair. Later in the afternoon, a panel will look at Economic Development and tourism. We will have more live coverage on saturday, here on cspan. President ial candidate donald trump traveled to the Mexican Border to talk about order issues, including immigration. He took questions from reporters and is joined by the mayor. Donald trump i would like to introduce the mayor. I will say a few words and he will say a few words. The mayor has done a fantastic job. Mr. Mayor . Mayor good afternoon, everyone. We are excited to have donald trump. He has provided us an opportunity to protect mr. Trump and his entourage what it is all about. We do for percent of the mexican trade 40 of the mexican trade. We are known for transportation you can see the big trucks behind us. We are excited about that. We also have oil and Gas Production in our county. It provides the revenues needed. Mr. Trump has brought up serious issues the immigration issue in particular. I feel personally, that Immigration Reform is required as needed. Specially in the border area. We need to secure the border. We also need other elements. An immigration act or bill. With that in mind, it is a pleasure to have donald trump and the excitement that he brings. It is on the plus side for our city and we appreciate all of these intentions. Donald trump thank you for being here. It has been an amazing experience. X go is booming. They have done and mexico is booming. They have done an amazing job. Mexico is doing so well, beyond what everyone thought. Does anyone have any questions . I have thousands of mexicans and hispanics. I do not know if you saw the bill, but they did a big hole in the state of nevada and i am way ahead. And for importantly, i am ahead with the hispanics, well into the 30s. I have a great relationship with the thousands and thousands of hispanics. Many work for me and the relationship is good. How many people have been killed . Donald trump how many killed . Killers all over the world. Donald trump they come from all over the world i agree with that. You keep saying it is a danger. To climb over the border, what the danger is . There donald trump there is a huge danger on the border with the illegals coming in. I have heard it from a lot of different people. In fact, as you know, Border Patrol invited me. Most of you have that invitation. The Border Patrol and invited me and canceled because frankly they do not want to get involved. The reason they invited me was because of the tremendous problem and all of the things we are talking about. They invited me, and then at the last moment and work virtually in the air and they said, we cannot get involved. The big those orders from washington. What evidence have you seen . Donald trump we will be showing you the evidence. One . Donald trump we just landed. We saw a lot of people waving flags saying, they are in favor of what we are doing. All of those people at the airport made me feel very, very honored. Were they chanting for or against you . Donald trump they were chanting for me. I did not see those chanting against me. Meeting the mayor was amazing. He is doing an amazing job. I am going to steal him to run something for me. He is fantastic the city manager. City manager welcome everyone. This is one of the greatest cities on the border. We are one vibrant city. The trade we have here with mexico, this is where the rubber meets the road. This is where all of the trade comes through. Mexico and the United States have this in common. This is where it goes to the rest of the world. We would not be where we are if not for the support of the mayor and the members of the city council that are here with us. We are are fortunate to have the support they provide us. Why is immigration an important issue for you . City manager that is a federal issue and we have our comments on that. We do not think that is necessary at this time. We think there are other ways we can Work Together with the federal government. Right now, we have a process that we have brought together with the Border Patrol to get some of these things done. The relationship that the city has with the federal government and the Law Enforcement is a tremendous one. Donald trump this is one section, but they are all different. What would you do to change the illegal immigration problem. Donald trump there is a huge problem with the illegals coming through. In some sections it is a massive problem. You have to have those coming in they have to be legal. You have to let the Border Patrol do their job. You have to let them do their job. That is why they invited me. I did not come here. Border patrol invited me. They want to be able to do their job. If they cannot it do their job, they are unhappy. Does the need to be able need to be a wall . Donald trump yes, there has to be a wall. Yes, definitely in certain areas especially there must be a wall. What would it take for them [inaudible] donald trump i am a republican and conservative. I want to run as a republican. I think i will get the nomination. The best way to win is for me to get the nomination and run probably, against hillary. Hillary is the worst secretary of state and the history of our country. She is going to be beaten, and i will beat her. The reason i won with the hispanic vote and i have one all over with the hispanic vote, i will take back jobs from china and japan. I will bring the jobs back and the hispanics will get those jobs. They will love trump even more than they already do. Were the hispanics you speak of insulted by your words . Donald trump no, they were not insulted. What about the millions of illegals that are already here . Donald trump were going to have to deal with that. Thank you very much. This weekend, google bring you an interview with Lincoln Chafee of rhode island. The former governor and senator. He will tell you about his decision to leave the republican party. You can watch that at the 35. At6 6 35. All steen current all 16 candidates have been likely invited to participate. It is live on cspan, cspan radio, and cspan. Org. The house has approved a measure. The white house has said it will be to the measure. The house debate is next. There is a Senate Hearing on the Iran Nuclear Agreement with john kerry and treasure every and the treasurer. Enforce the law for sanctuary cities act and commend representative hunter for introducing this legislation. It helps to introduce one of the main factors could attribute eating to the collapse contributing to the collapsed in the United States. They should be able to share information with the federal employees and remove the unlawful, a legal aliens. Sanctuary cities are impeding the federal government. They are jeopardizing the safety of our citizens. Legislation cowritten by lamarr smith prohibited states and localities from becoming sanctuaries from unlawful aliens. The act of 1996 ensures that jurisdictions cannot prohibit restrictive government officials from sending to, or receiving from immigration authorities information regarding the status of any person, regarding immigration. The Justice Department has never initiated a prosecution for violation of the 1996 act. If the administration will not act, congress must. That is what mr. Hunters bill does. It will withhold acts withhold grants from sanctuary jurisdictions. It will make them abide by current federal law and advance Public Safety. Mr. Hunter has made the important first step, but there is much more we have to do. Once these illegal aliens have been identified, it is crucial that they hold them so dhs can begin the removal proceedings. Within the first eight months of 2014, sanctuary cities refused to comply for 8000 145 8145 aliens. 1600 aliens were arrested again after their release. The retainer resulted in a traffic tragic death of Kathryn Steinle. This is why it is important that we honor the detainers. The conclusion of the witnesses was, we need to make Crystal Clear that compliance is mandatory. If this administration openly to that the containers can be ignored this administration has chosen to create enforcement free zones for millions of unlawful and criminal aliens. It has turned the United States into a sanctuary nation and that is the current reality. Despite dhspledged to remove criminal aliens, and the last year, the number of arrests has ball one by one. U. S. Immigration and customs has fallen by 1 3. 30,558 in 2014. 1400 of those have already been convicted of new crimes. These are People Living in our neighborhoods. They are living freight, and causing crimes on our streets. Under the Obama Administration, the number of criminal aliens that are not being detained has jumped 20 . We must prevent this switch from being turned off. We have been offered a way forward to ensure the enforcement of our immigration laws. His legislation, the Michael Davis junior and danny oliver, in honor of local Law Enforcement act allows states and localities to enforce immigration laws of their own as long as they are consistent with federal law. They can proactively take responsibility for protecting their communities and ensuring the integrity of the jurisdiction. We need to take additional action to ensure compliance with our immigration laws in the future and i assure my colleagues to support h. R. 3009. Speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan is recognized. The gentleman is recognized. I rise in strong opposition to h. R. 3009. They enforce the laws against the sanctuary cities. It is a blatant attempt by most of the majority to insert it antiimmigrant status and agenda into local policing initiatives. It does this by prohibiting state and local governments from receiving critical criminal justice funds if they are policies that prioritize Public Safety and Community Policing over federal Immigration Enforcement. The bill absolutely makes no sense. Rather than improving Public Safety it will achieve the complete opposite. That is not just my conclusion. Law enforcement agencies from across the United States and numerous organizations set as the sheriffs association, the fraternal order of police, the Law Enforcement Immigration Task force, the United States conference of mayors, and the natural leak of cities all oppose this bill. In effect, this bill will punish Law Enforcement officers by withholding the funds they need to do their jobs. It would require states and localities to prioritize federal Immigration Enforcement ahead of enforcing, enhancing doublet safety. Reactionary proposals such as this legislation will only make our communities less safe because immigrants will not report crimes or otherwise cooperate with the police if they fear they, or their family members, will be asked for their immigration status. As a result, crimes will go unsolved, and so, unpunished. More people will be victimized. The funds from the local communities will not lower crime. Studies have demonstrated that these programs, particularly the cops and funds provide Crucial Services to fight criminal activity. A vote for h. R. 3009 is a vote to take these funds away and risk making communities less safe. All of us, on both sides of the a. L. , are opposed to Violent Crime. On both sides of the aisle are opposed to Violent Crime. There is no doubt about that. I hate what happened to Kathryn Steinle, but h. R. 3009 is the wrong approach. The best way to reduce crime is to gain the communitys trust and cooperation. I also believe that the majority of immigrants in this country are hardworking, lawabiding residents and comprehensive Immigration Reform will allow these while ensuring our entire community. Are protected from harm. Instead of considering this commonsense solution, the majority have repeatedly voted to deport dreamers. Deport the parents of United States citizens and to deport Vulnerable Children fleeing persecution, violence and trafficking. And now the majority in the form of h. R. 3009 asks us to override the Public Safety mission of state and local enforcement agencies to increase deportations. I strenuously urge my colleagues to oppose this dangerous legislation, and, madam speaker i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan reserves. The gentleman from virginia, mr. Goodlatte, is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte madam speaker, its now my pleasure to yield four minutes to the chief sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from california, mr. Hunter. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california is recognized for four minutes. Mr. Hunter thank you, madam chairman. Let me say to chairman goodlatte, thank you very much for your leadership on this. Thanks for moving this so quickly. This is a timely bill, and i just want to thank you and your committee for moving it so quick. This legislation is about one thing. Thats accountability. The American People have the right to not give their tax dollars to municipalities and states that do not follow federal law. Theres loss of changes to enforcement that must be imposed on sanctuary cities. Well work towards those things. This Republican Congress will work towards those things. Just as we are putting in motion a mechanism today that holds sanctuary cities accountable. I think we can all agree any locality must comply with the law. And they are required to coordinate and cooperate with the federal government. If an arrest is made, the federal government should be notified. The fact that San Francisco and l. A. And other cities disagree with the politics of federal enforcement does not give them a free pass to subvert the law. If they do there has to be consequences. The way we impose consequences on these sanctuary cities is by hitting them where it hurts thats in their pocketbook. Its simple, if you dont comply with the law as it stands now, then you dont receive coveted federal money intended for Law Enforcement. That money allocated for fiscal year 2015 alone almost adds up to 1 billion. 800 million are going to municipalities cities, counties, and states that care more about illegal alien criminals felons, than they do their own citizens. Its time we stand up to sanctuary cities and begin holding them accountable for their failure to uphold the law. I come as a representative that has sanctuary cities in my district. They are going to lose money for this. They are going to lose money because they are not complying with federal law. But the money that they get, this federal money that they get, its taxpayer money from states like wisconsin, from new york, South Carolina, from florida, throughout the entire country. People around this country dont want their money going to states and cities that dont care to follow the federal law. Again, if youre a state or city or locality, then you choose to defy federal immigration law, youll be cut off from three federal programs of the the state criminal alien assistance program. The Community Oriented policing services program, and the byrne jack program. These are the three funds that will get cut if you are a sanctuary city. All you have to do to receive these funds is comply with the federal law. This bill is the first step in restoring accountability in our immigration system. Our border infrastructure continues to fall short in too many places. And im as frustrated as anyone in this congress that the administration refuses to enforce federal immigration law. These are all serious issues that need to be addressed, and i look forward to working with this congress and chairman goodlatte in the future to advance these goals. I urge all my colleagues to support h. R. 3009. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the that. Virginia reserves. Gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Conyers im pleased to recognize zoe lofgren of california for four minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from california is recognized for four minutes. Ms. Lofgren madam speaker, we have an immigration system thats badly broken. There are 11 million undocumented people in this country and contrary to what donald trump may think, the majority of these people are not rapists. They are hardworking people. Spouses and parents of u. S. Citizens dreamers, entrepreneurs. Who want an opportunity to come forward submit to background checks and become fully american. Faced with a broken system state and local Law Enforcement have adopted policies to enhance Public Safety and maintain Community Trust because when people are afraid of the police when they are afraid that the police might ask them or their family about their immigration status, they are afraid to report crimes, unlikely to cooperate with investigations, and then criminals thrive and the general public suffers. This bill puts an impossible choice between state and local Law Enforcement agencies. They can either abandon policies that work or they can lose the federal funds they rely on to police their communities and protect them. Dangers posed by this bill are real. 144 national state, and local advocacy organizations have written he opposing this bill because written opposing this bill because of the detrimental impact it would have on Public Safety. Big cities but also little ones like dayton ohio most people dont think of as an sanctuary city. There they are told not to check immigration stay tuffs witnesses or victims or to ask about immigration during minor traffic stops. The police chief there has explained that this policy has helped them have a safer community. According to the chief, after the policy was adopted, serious Violent Crime dropped nearly 22 , and serious property crime decreased almost 15 . Madam speaker, why should dayton ohio, be barred from receiving funds for policing when their policies work . Now, punishing the Law Enforcement officers by withholding the funds they need is not only incorrect, its why the bill is opposed by the major counties, association, the sheriffs association, the fraternal order of police, dozens of sheriffs and police chiefs. The president has said, we should deport felons not families. And thats what his Priority Enforcement Program does. But the second of Homeland Security told the Judiciary Committee just last week that withholding funds from communities would be a huge setback in efforts to improve the relationship between d. H. S. , state, and local Law Enforcement, and communities across the contry. It has been said country. It has been said that this bill is a response to the tragic murder of Katherine Steinle in San Francisco. Just up the road from my district. However, nothing in this bill would have prevented that outrageous murder of ms. Steinle. Nothing in the bill would have required the bureau of prison and i. C. E. To consult with San Francisco to ascertain whether or not the 20yearold warrant would lead to a prosecution. Nothing in this bill would have required i. C. E. To obtain a warrant as is necessary to hold people beyond the term of their criminal sentence. Nothing in the bill would even have affected the sheriff of San Franciscos decision to release the individual charged with murdering ms. Steinle. That tragedy should not be used to advance a different agenda this bill. Over the last year, we have come to the floor to vote on bills to deport the dream act kids, to deport the parents of u. S. Citizens, to deport Vulnerable Children fleeing persecution and sex trafficking. Today we are asked to vote on a bill that overrides state and local Law Enforcement agencies and decrease deportations all around. We had the votes to pass Immigration Reform in the last congress and i hope we can get back to that point i would ask for an additional 15 seconds. I would note that we have an opportunity here to learn from the tragedy in San Francisco to come up with Real Solutions that would make our community safer. Instead of using that tragedy as an excuse to promote a different agenda. With that i yield back the remainder of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan reserves. The gentleman from virginia, mr. Goodlatte, is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte i yield myself 15 seconds to make it very clear nothing in this bill requires any officer of the law to ask any question of any victims of crime about their immigration status. All it does is prohibit cities and counties from ordering their officers to not communicate with i. C. E. Or gather information from i. C. E. About the status of individuals. This is a good bill. Now its my pleasure to yield two minutes to the gentleman from texas, the former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and the current chairman of the science committee, mr. Smith. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Smith madam speaker, first of all let me thank the gentleman from virginia and a good friend and the chairman of the Judiciary Committee for yielding me time. Madam speaker, i support h. R. 3009 the enforce the law for sanctuary city act. The bill is appropriately named since sanctuary cities violate current laws that require these jurisdictions to share information with federal authorities about Illegal Immigrants who have been arrested. H. R. 3009 helps enforce an immigration bill i introduced several years ago that became law. This legislation withholds certain federal funds from sanctuary jurisdictions that hide the immigration status of Illegal Immigrants charged with crimes. These reforms serve as a first step in keeping dangerous criminals off our streets and out of our neighborhoods. Sang two wirery sanctuary cities have increased under this administration you which has done nothing to discourage them. During only an eightmonth period last year, sanctuary cities released almost 9,000 Illegal Immigrants charged with or convicted of serious crimes. One quarter have already been arrested again for committing more crimes like murder and sexual assault. When does it end . I dont understand how anyone could oppose enforcing immigration laws. The victims are not democrats or republicans. The victims are innocent americans. Many of the crimes committed by Illegal Immigrants could have been prevented if the Obama Administration had enforced immigration laws. Instead it has chosen to ignore them and innocent americans continue to pay a steep price. I thank the gentleman from california, mr. Hunter, for authoring this legislation and i urge its approval and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Conyers madam speaker, i would like now to yield to a Senior Member of the judiciary the gentleman from new york mr. Nadler, four minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized for four minutes. Mr. Nadler i thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam speaker, i rise in strong opposition to h. R. 3009, which will make communities across the country less safe from crime. This legislation would withhold needed federal Fund Interesting cities that prohibit their Law Enforcement authorities from collecting information on a persons immigration status or that have policies restricting the disclosure of this information to other governmental entities. Many cities, including new york, have made the reasonable determination that they will not question victims of crime or witnesses to a crime about their immigration status. They believe that it is counterproductive to make them afraid to cooperate with Law Enforcement. But this note says we in Congress Knows better and in the name of protecting Public Safety well deny such cities the funds that they need to protect the Public Safety. Many cities think that their communities are safer when the victim of Domestic Violence feels comfortable asking the police for protection from her abuser. Without fear of deportation. They believe that witnesses to a murder ought to step forward and assist Law Enforcement in tracking down the perpetrator without fear theyll face consequences of their own if they step forward. They think that good policing depends on Building Trust with their residents, and thats striking fear among immigrants that they may be deported if they report a crime makes everyone less safe. Punishing residents of cities whose officials have made such decisions is both unfair and unwise. New york city alone could lose 57 million under this legislation. This would not only punish the Public Officials who set these policies and the undocumented residents in their communities, but it would punish all innocent people to depend on federal resources to protect Public Safety. My heart is with the steinle family. And we all share their outrage at kates senseless murder, but this bill and other attempts to punish socalled sanctuary cities would do nothing to address the issues that might have prevented her death. Instead of taking positive steps to improve communication between federal, state, and local authorities, this bill simply demonizes immigrants and perpetuates the myth that they are more prone to commit a crime than is the native born population. This legislation might fit comfortably in Donald Trumps Campaign Platform but no business on the house floor. I urge my colleagues to vote no and i yield to the gentleman from michigan. Mr. Conyrs mr. Conyers i thank the gentleman for yielding. I just wanted to make clear that the gentleman from virginia, chairman of the committee is wrong about this bill. He says it only prohibits states and localities from adopting policies about not communicating with i. C. E. This is not true. The bill also prohibits state and local Law Enforcement agencies from adopting policies directing their officers not to collect information about immigration status for the general public. Any individual, the bill says. Any individual. So it doesnt state that state and local police must gather immigration status information for the federal government. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I yield the balance of my time. Mr. Nadler i thank the gentleman. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan reserves. The gentleman from virginia, mr. Goodlatte, is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte madam speaker, i yield myself 15 seconds to say, again, nothing in the bill requires any officer to ask any question of any victim of crimes about their imcombration status. All it does is prohibit cities and counties from ordering their officers to not communicate with i. C. E. Or gather information status of individuals. This time its my pleasure to yield two minutes to the gentleman from iowa, mr. King, a member of the Judiciary Committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from iowa is recognized for two minutes. Mr. King thank you madam speaker. I thank the gentleman, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and appreciate this bill coming to the floor. I hear this discussion and it seems to me theres a consistent theme that the people on the other side of the aisle are opposed to bringing together Law Enforcement. They say nothing in this bill could have prevented the tragic murder of kate steinle. I would suggest if we had no sanctuary jurisdictions in america, theres a lot greater chance that his deportation would have stuck and if we had a president of the United States who worked to get our Law Enforcement officers to coordinate at each level of our political subdivisions rather than litigate when they do mirror federal law, likely we had a chance to prevent not only her tragic death but that of thousands and thousands of others. I support this bill. It is encompassed within an amendment i brought to the floor here on june 3 that passed with 227 votes. I congratulate Duncan Hunter for his persistence on this legislation thats six years long. Im grateful to be working on an immigration issue with a Second Generation of hunters. I see theres much more enforcement thats ahead of us, but this is a step and its a step that helps us find out, are people for a threat of enforcement and bringing some leverage to bring the political subdivisions in line rather than having them throughout the law which theyve flout the law which theyve consistently done and grown dramatically under the Obama Administration . Theres much more that id like to do, much more to do. Id like to move kates law. Id like to make it incremental so it goes from a fiveyear mandatory to 10year mandatory on second offense and move it up the line. Id like to pass a new i. D. Act so the i. R. S. Can help enforce this. Id like to build a fence, a wall madam speaker. And id like to repass the border bill we did last summer. There are a good number of things. We need to make detainers mandatory and tighten up the loophole language. All that we got a chance to do after labor day. Today we need to do what we can do and thats pass the bill. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Conyers madam speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Conyers thank you madam speaker. Im pleased now to recognize the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Price, for two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from North Carolina is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Price madam speaker i rise in opposition to this misguided legislation. Offered under the false pretense that it has something to do with the tragic murder of Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco. Make no mistake ms. Steinles killer should not have been on the streets. We must get to the bottom of the official misjudgment and negligence and the bureaucratic breakdown that led to this tragedy. As the former chairman of the Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee, i take a backseat to no one when it comes to deporting dangerous criminal aliens who pose a threat to Public Safety. But we also need to be very clear about this. This tragedy has nothing to do with socalled sanctuary cities. The bill before us would punish some of the most vulnerable cities high on the list, places like San Francisco, new york, miami, chicago punish them for exercising their lawful discretion in dealing with noncriminals or those with minor violations. They do this in order to protect the public and enforce the law which requires trust and cooperation with immigrant communities. To scapegoat entire cities and make Law Enforcement less effective through this bill is simply inexcusable. I urge its defeat. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan reserves. The gentleman from virginia mr. Goodlatte, is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte madam speaker, i yield myself 15 seconds to say to the gentleman from North Carolina this bill has everything to do with what happened in San Francisco, the tragic murder of kate steinle was because the city of San Francisco was not following the law and contacting the Immigration Service and doing things to make sure that he was deported. Instead, they released him back onto the streets. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Goodlatte its now my privilege to recognize the gentleman from california, mr. Calvert, for two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Calvert madam speaker, i rise today in support of this bill and support of american families. This week weve heard powerful and heartbreaking stories from families who have lost a loved one at the hands of an illegal immigrant. Oftentimes, these individuals were able to operate freely because of the sanctuary policies of certain u. S. Cities, policies that ignore federal immigration law. It is time this congress put the lives and welfare of american citizens and legal residents first. Its time to protect the innocent. This means not another kate josh dennis, danny, grant and countless others. It is time to penalize cities that willfully ignore federal law to the detriment of citizens and legal residents. I encourage my fellow members to read this testimony from this weeks Senate Hearing, read about the lives lost, the brutality of the crimes, the lack of remorse by the perpetrators and the heartbreak of the families. Today we have a choice protect fellow americans or give sanctuary to criminal aliens. Thank you and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Conyers madam speaker, i am pleased now to recognize an excellent member of the Judiciary Committee from illinois, mr. Gutierrez, for 2 1 2 minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from illinois is recognized for 2 1 2 minutes. Mr. Gutierrez just a would you weeks into his campaign and donald trump has a bill on the floor of the house. That is better than some of the senators hes running against. Donald trump announces his campaign saying mexican immigrants are mostly murders, drug dealers and rapists what is the response from murderers, drug dealers and rapists and what is the response . Some try to distance themselves from his comments. Ok. But here we are on the floor of the house passing a bill to jump on the trump bandwagon, cynically exploiting a familys tragedy in San Francisco to score political points. I have been very clear from day one, despite efforts by heardlines efforts, this lopez sanchez, who pulls a trigger in San Francisco should have been deported and never turned over. I have no sympathy for him and i said on this floor and i will say it again murderers should rot in hell. The breakdown by the federal government, the federal government to deporting known criminals as they have done before to keep them in jail while is what led to an American Woman losing her life. Shes just about the age of my daughter when she was killed. A tragedy and a preventable tragedy if the federal government had done what its supposed to do and preventable if this congress does what its supposed to do, address immigration years ago, as my side of the aisle pleaded you to do. But this republican proposal is not a serious attempt of fixing the problem. Instead of piecemeal measures maximizing deportation, the Congress Needs to enact comprehensive Immigration Reform that combines smart enforcement at the border and the interior with a clear plan for reduesing the size of the undocumented reducing the size of the undocumented population in america. We do this by having a modern visa system so people can come with visas and background checks, not with smugglers or overstaying visas and just blending in. We do this by telling millions of people who have never committed crimes come forward, admit youre here illegally, go through a background check and go to the right side of the law. Get them on the books so they no longer need to worry about their local Police Working with or without the deportation system. If you get millions and millions of immigrants inside the law, then the ones who are criminals cant qualify to get inside the law, they will stick out like sore thumbs, not blend in to our communities across america and cause havoc as they did in San Francisco. But this is a very but this is very specifically the approach the republican majority refused to touch with a 10foot pole because they see demagogues like donald trump firing off mr. Conyers i yield the gentleman 15 seakeds. Mr. Gutierrez but this approach of bringing millions and millions of immigrants inside the law so that we can get after the criminals that stick out like sore thumbs outside of the law, this approach is what has been the approach that the republican majority refuses to touch with a 10foot pole because they see demagogues like donald trump firing off and want to take the easy way out. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte madam speaker, its now my pleasure to yield three minutes to the gentleman from arizona, mr. Salmon. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Salmon thanks, mr. Chairman. Id like to thank my colleague, Duncan Hunter, for working with me in crafting this important piece of legislation. As a coauthor of this bill im very proud of seeing the house taking action on in front. Also want to thank leadership for bringing this bill to the floor. Were hearing some strange rhetoric here today, especially from the other side of the aisle. I hear about vulnerable cities. How about vulnerable taxpaying americans . I hear about sanctuary for thugs like the one that killed kate steinle. Shouldnt our city be a sanctuary for lawabiding american citizens who have a right to walk on safe streets . Make no mistake, this is a very, very important bill. From 2010 to 2014, the number 121 should stick in everybodys minds. 121 Illegal Immigrants with lengthy criminal records went on to commit murder after they were let out to do this their heinous crimes. Thats why i was so appalled to hear one of my colleagues across the aisle call the murder of american citizens like kate steinle and my constituent, grant ronnebeck, a little thing. Such disgusting remarks and flagrant disregard for life especially the lives of those that we claim to represent i find repulsive. In fact such calous remarks only serve to callous remarks only Shows Americans wanting us to protect our borders and citizens and stand up and take america back. Its time to stand up and be heard and demand that the federal government fulfills this most basic duties. These sanctuary cities that refuse to uphold the law and openly broadcast the fact that they are flouting the law make our country less safe and only serve to perpetuate tragedies like the one we saw in San Francisco. Not only are these supposed sanctuary cities ignoring the law but theyre broadcasting the fact illegal immigrant felons, like Kate Steinles murder, a seventime felon who flat out admitted one of the reasons he chose to stay in San Francisco in fact, the predominant role he chose to stay because he knew they would protect him. Well, whos going to protect lawabiding americans . When will American Cities be sanctuaries for americans and not for illegal felons . Unfortunately, these sanctuary cities are not being held accountable by this administration, which has demonstrated time and time again it has no interest in securing the border or upholding existing immigration law. With this in mind i think that we have a responsibility to stand up and do whats right. This sanctuary cities policy and fixing it so that they have to abide by the laws that we pass here in congress to protect our borders and protect our citizens has to be adhered to. Its just common sense and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Conyers madam speaker, i yield the balance of my time to representative lofgren and ask unanimous consent that she be permitted to control the time. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Lofgren thank you. Madam speaker, i would like to yield to the gentleman from texas, mr. Beto orourke, one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for one minute. Mr. Orourke i thank the gentlewoman from california for yielding. Madam speaker, id like to bring the perspective of my community, the community i have the honor of representing in congress, el paso, texas, to bear in this discussion. El paso is the Safest Community over 500,000 population in the United States today and it has been for the last four years in a row. And that is, you know, some people think despite the fact that it is connected to Ciudad Juarez at the u. S. Mexico border and the fact that it has a large number of immigrants in the community. I say and the people in that community agrees is because of the immigrants that participate and contribute to the american dream. And on issues and matters of Law Enforcement, i tend to defer to the experts, and Big City Police chiefs and county sheriffs like the sheriff in el paso, texas, say for them to prevent crime and to solve crimes its necessary to be able to work with everyone in the Community Without fear that they are going to be enforcing federal Law Enforcement mandates to the exclusion of the Public Safety of the people that i have the honor of representing. And for that reason i urge my colleagues to join me in voting against this proposal, a solution in search of a problem. With that, madam speake i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentlewoman reserves the balance of her time. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, i yield myself 15 seconds to say yet again nothing in this bill requires any officer to ask any question of any vtims of crime about their immigration status. All it does is probit cities and counties to offer information stat bus their individus. At this time its my pleasure to yield got minutes to the gentlewoman from tenssee, mrs. Blackburn. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from tennessee is recoized for two minutes. Mrs. Blackburn thank you, mr. Speaker. And i thank the gentleman from virginia for hisork. So constently working on this issue of how we deal with the criminal illegal alien population, and also with the sanctuary cindies. Ihank mr. Hunter for the work that he has cities. I thank mr. Hunter for the work he has done on this bill. I chuckled when congressman king , the gentleman from iowa, mentioned the Second Generation of hunters. Because, yes, we do know that his father was very involved in this issue, and focusing on making certa that we keep our cities safe. You know, as we have this debate, and as we look at these sanctuary city policies that certain counties and cities and states have exercised, weve come to realize that through the years, every states become a border state and every town a border town. Because of the criminal, illegal alien population that will gravitate towa these sanctuary citie. L. A. Los angeles was the first sact wear city in 1979. We hear people say oh, this is an issue thats been around for a long time. Mr. Speaker, that does not mean you do not address t issue. It means you solve the problem. You bring forward solutions. And thats what we are doing here today. The sentencing u. S. Sentencing commission recently released some data that i think is instructive to this debate. Illegal aliens accoted for almost 75 of federal sentences for drug possessions. And made up ore than 1 3 of all federal sentences in 2014. That is why we are dealing with this issue. Our constituents are saying, you need to put this on the front burner and deal with this issue. That is what we are doing here. Look at the state of texas. I just recently read these stats from them. Texas department of Public Service released a report. Another minute . Mr. Goodlatte im pleased to yield an additional minute to the gentlewoman from tennessee. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from tennessee is recognized for an additional minute. Mrs. Blackburn in texas the department of Public Safety released a report that between 2008 and 2014 foreign aliens committed over 600000 crimes and almost 3,000 murders. In the state of texas. That is the reason that we come here to address this issue. You know mr. Speaker, the crime rate from illegal aliens in this country should be zero. It should be zero. Because it should not be tolerated. With that i thank the gentleman for yielding the extra time and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Lofgren mr. Speaker, i would be pleased now to recognize the gentleman from california, mr. Becerra, for two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Becerra i thank the gentlelady for yielding. The man who killed catherine steinly should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. More importantly, the officials who released the person who killed her, released this man from custody, they dropped the ball, they should be held accountable. But this bill punishes the police in my city of los angeles , the police in the city of knocksville, the police in manchester, new hampshire. It punishes police that had nothing to do with the crime that occurred in San Francisco. It takes away money from the Police Department in los angeles and knocksville and manchester. When we need to put people and police on the street to protect all of us. But this would deprive our cities of moneys that we have earned because we paid our taxes. Why . Because the proponents of this bill say that our cities are violating the law. If we are violating the law name the law we are violating. We are not violating any law. You just dont like the policy. Dont take the donald trump bait. Dont punish others for the crime of someone else. In our country, you go after the person who is criminally liable. Go after that individual. And lock them up forever. But dont tell the police in los angeles or in manchester or in knoxville tennessee, and all the other cities that are trying to have a working relationship between their police and their growing immigrant communities that they will be able to collaborate so we can go after the criminals. Because thats what youre doing. Youre taking money away from l. A. , even though this crime did not happen in my city. And youre telling my Police Department and the men and women in uniform in l. A. That they will have fewer officers on either side because youre going to take money away, because you dont like that some guy committed a criminal act he killed someone, he should be punished for it, but we had nothing to do with it. Go after the folks that are accountable. This is not the way we do justice in america. And it is wrong. It is wrong for you to tell all these communities that have established a working relationship between their Police Officers and their growing immigrant communities that theyre going to now lose funds to hire more Police Officers. Wrong way to do it. Thats the donald trump bait. Dont take it. Lets vote this down. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Members are reminded that their remarks should be directed to the chair. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, i yield myself 30 seconds to respond to the gentleman from california, to tell him that the law that sanctuary cities are violating is title 8, section 1373 of the United States code, communication between Government Agencies and the immigration and Naturalization Service. And the failure to do that has resulted in 8000 criminal aliens being released onto our streets just last year by sanctuary cities and those ,000 criminal aliens have since 8,000 criminal aliens have since then commit thed almost committed almost 1,900 additional crimes. My times expired and im pleased to yield two minutes to three minutes to the speaker pro tempore reserve. The gentleman will control. The gentleman from texas is recognized for three minutes. Thank you mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of the enforce our laws for sanctuary cities act, because weve got to stop the madness of not enforcing our laws. In the last weeks weve seen coverage of two terrible murders that occurred because our laws went unenforced. My thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to the families of the victims. Sadly these tragedies are a representation of a larger, deeper and more troubling problem. While today i wish we were also considering legislation by mr. Gowdy to address the administrations abysmal lack of respect for our immigration laws, or chairman mccauls bill to secure the border, and chairman smiths bill to implement everify, to stop businesses from exploiting undocumented workers, this bill is a step in the right direction. Mr. Farenthold it will stop the American People from subsidizing local Law Enforcement departments that refuse to do their jobs and enforce the law. But lets take the emotion out of this. Lets take it out of the immigration issue and Border Security issue, which are emotionally charged. This is a fiscal responsibility bill. If we were spending money for a defense contractor to develop a new weapons system and they werent developing that weapons system wed take the money back. Well, here were giving money to Law Enforcement to work with i. C. E. To deal with criminal aliens, and theyre not doing it. Of course weve got to take the money back. It would be foolish to do anything else. Mr. Speaker, this horrible loss of life that weve seen is a result of the negligence and complete lack of respect for the rule of law that this administration and the mayers of sanctuary cities took an oath to uphold is appalling. Today were going to be able to deal with one part of that problem, and im going to encourage all of my colleagues to vote with me, to support h. R. 3009 and put our nation back on the path to sanity. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from virginia reserves. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Lofgren mr. Speaker, may i inquire how much time remains . The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady has 9 3 4 minutes remaining. The gentleman from virginia has seven 7 1 2. Ms. Lofgren i reserve at this point. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from california reserves. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, we have only one additional speaker and we i think have the right to close. So we would ask the gentlewoman to proceed. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Lofgren mr. Speaker, Community Trust policies result in more efficient policing. When state and local Law Enforcement agencies promote Community Trust policies, Public Safetys increased. The Current New York Police commissioner and former chief of police in los angeles said, when officers can speak freely with victims and witnesses it goes a long way towards making every American Neighborhood much safer. Heres a case study. New haven connecticut. According to a 2010 report by the Police Executive research forum, new haven, connecticut, developed a Community Trust policy in which new haven police assured immigrant communities that the Police Departments goals were to address crime and to make the streets safer and they encouraged people to report crime and to cooperate regardless of their immigration status. The city law prohibited immigration status inquiries of crime victims, witnesses or others who approached police for assistance. I would note that the bill before us would prohibit this policy, this law that new haven adopted. The result of new havens policy and their other Community Trust policies were stronger ties between Law Enforcement and the immigrant community. So over the next several years, new haven experienced a 46 decrease in murders and a 13 decrease in rape incidents. This policy, which this bill would prohibit, worked. Now, this was a very important result and after learning of it the United States conference of mayors, a group that most of us trust pretty much, did a survey of cities around the United States who adopted the same trust policies. They include augusta, georgia, new brunswick, new jersey, and a whole host of others. They found that all of these cities also reported the same kind of reduction in crime after they adopted these policies. So adopting these policies is an important component of keeping communities safe. And this bill would prohibit that. It would prohibit it. Now, i understand the outrage over mr. Lopez sanchez. In fact, i share it. Obviously hes been accused of murder and even when we have a situation like this, we have to have a trial. But i believe personally that he is guilty based on all the evidence. I believe he should not have been out on that street in San Francisco. And if you look at his record, and ill go through it a little bit it actually makes certain points. Ive heard people say, well, weve got open borders and thats why he was here. In fact, thats not the case. This individual attempted to enter the United States repeatedly and he was caught by the Border Patrol, just as theyre supposed to do their job, and what happened then . He was deported repeatedly in the 1990s, and then they started prosecuting him for felony reentry after removal. He served 16 years in federal prison for the felony of reentering after removal. So our laws went after him. He should not have been released in San Francisco. But i think some of what we need to do, see what policies would have kept him off that street. I will deal with those in just one second. But first i would like to yield two minutes to mr. Becerra for a point that he would like to make. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Becerra i thank the gentlelady for yielding. I took a look at the statute, the section that the chairman cited, as the authority that a law has been violated by San Francisco or any other the speaker pro tempore the gentleman will direct his remarks to the chair. Mr. Becerra mr. Chairman, i will direct my remarks to you. May i ask, mr. Chairman, if any of my time has been consumed as a result of the chairmans interpretation of my remarks . Interruption of my remarks . The speaker pro tempore no, sir. Mr. Becerra i thank the chairman. Mr. Chairman the chairman of the committee made a statement that the law that had been violated by San Francisco and the law that would be violated by places like los angeles, that would cause this legislation to have my community of los angeles lose money for its Police Officers, was a particular section in the code. Ive read the code. Im looking at it right now. That section relates to information being provided about the immigration status of an individual. Were not talking about the immigration status of an individual. We all knew that this individual was not documented. We knew his status. The information that was not conveyed in this particular case is that the individual is going to be released from custody. This will bill doesnt change that. There was no law violated by the city of San Francisco. Certainly my city of los angeles didnt violate any law. The city of knocksville, tennessee, didnt violate any law. The city of manchester, new hampshire, didnt violate any law. I could name you cities and towns who are trying to have working relationships with their immigrant community that didnt violate any law. But this law would punish cities and towns because this wishes to extract policies. There is no state or city law in america that supersedes federal law. Federal law is the law of the land. The chairman knows that and we all know that. So to pretend that somehow cities are violating federal law is a farce. It is a tactic that donald trump is using right now as he goes out and campaigns for president. We should not deny our Police Departments funding. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Lofgren i just want to close by posing some of the questions that this bill does not deal and that i think should command our attention. In this case, we had an individual who had a criminal record. He had attempted to enter the United States. Was apprehended, deported, was prosecuted and convicted for illegal entry after removal. After serving over four years for the last felony prosecution, he was ready to be deported. But they found, even though he had been deported many times before with an Outstanding Bench warrant from 1995 where the underlying offense was Marijuana Possession, all of a sudden, this year, he was sent to San Francisco. I think one of the questions we need to ask is what is the process of outstanding warrants and interface with the bureau of prisons when someone should be deported. Apparently there was no communication between the federal government and the prosecuting attorney in San Francisco. He was sent to, apparently San Francisco, but the District Attorney did not see this matter until he was already in custody. Now, i dont fault the District Attorney for not prosecuting on a 20yearold Marijuana Possession case. Where would you find the witnesses . And in fact, california today Marijuana Possession is an infraction, not a misdemeanor, but the point is, he should have never been in San Francisco to begin with. We need to look at the processes that we have to make sure that we dont have this kind of situation again. And clearly, he should not have been released when the District Attorney declined to prosecute. At this point i would like to yield a minute to my colleague from california, mr. Sam farr. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california is recognized for one minute. Mr. Farr thank you very much. I represent many small communities in california that have a lot of gang violence, hispanic young men against hispanic young men. Theyre not undocumented. They are secondgeneration gang. A lot of killings. Labeled the murder capital in the United States. What the communities have been trying to do is work out Community Policing, where you really trust the cops. They ask them to be a sanctuary city because what the local cops didnt like, they would come in and do raids and round up innocent people. And there was lots of confusion. Our office would get involved trying to chase people down and all these things. The cities are saying lets not turn over the names we stop on mr. Allen infraction. Let them come down and do jail checks. They dont want to do jail checks. Its not fun and fancy. Ms. Lofgren i would yield and additional 30 seconds. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for 30 seconds. Mr. Farr this bill just busts all that. All the trust that has been built. The San Francisco deal was a big screwup between Law Enforcement but dont penalize these cities that are doing a lot of wonderful things to do Community Policing and believe confidence in their Law Enforcement. You are going to create more problems than you ever imagined, people not wanting to report crimes and not talk to cops. And you are using the heavy hand of government. Lets air this out and address the problems that congresswoman lofgren talked about and not adopt this bill. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Goodlatte i yield myself a minute to respond to both gentlemen from california. First go with regard to mr. Becerra the fact of the matter is that title 8 of the United States code, section 1373 related to communication between Government Agencies and immigration and Naturalization Service is an important statute and sanctuary cities violate that statute when they pass ordinances that prohibit, prohibit their Law Enforcement officers from communicating with the immigration and Naturalization Service. This yields situations like what occurred in San Francisco, because the sheriff there had a policy saying they could not communicate with the i. N. S. And one San Francisco supervise supervisor has called upon the city to change the policy so they will communicate. This bill, which cuts off funds to cities that have provisions that contradict and violate the United States law does the same thing by a different route. And it will save many lives in the future if local Law Enforcement will communicate with the i. N. S. To the gentleman from california, mr. Farr, i just want to repeat again what i said several times here. Theres nothing in this bill the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Goodlatte i yield myself 15 seconds. Nothing in this bill that requires any officer to ask any question of any victim of crimes about their immigration status or to reveal that information to the i. N. S. So i would urge folks to look at what this bill very straightforward simple bill says federal law governance immigration policy and local government shouldnt have hundreds of different immigration policies. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Goodlatte at this time, to close the speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Ms. Lofgren do we have 15 seconds left . Yes. Ms. Lofgren we have been asked by Law Enforcement agencies, by Domestic Violence advocacy groups by the Safe Community not to adopt this bill. I know we can come together to make a safer community. This bill is not the answer. And i urge members to vote no. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. The gentleman from virginia. Mr. Goodlatte how much time is remaining . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman has 6 1 4 remaining. Mr. Goodlatte i yield the balance of our time to the chairman of the immigration and Border Security subcommittee, mr. Gowdy, to close our debate. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from South Carolina is recognized to close. Mr. Gowdy i want to thank chairman goodlatte for his leadership on this and so many issues of significance on the Judiciary Committee. His steady hand and brilliant legal mind. Mr. Speaker, i want to thank the family of kate steinle during this time of unspeakable grief. Bearing a child, mr. Speaker, is what each of us who has ever been called mom or dad, fears the most. After Trayvon Martin was killed, the president said that could have been my son, mr. Speaker. And when i see a picture of a beautiful kate steinle smiling, that could have been any of our daughters. And it still can be because what happened to her, mr. Speaker, can and will happen again if we do not get serious about enforcing the law. John francisco lopezsanchez had a quarter centurys worth of lawlessness. He committed local state and federal crimes in five separate states. And each time had so little regard for the law of this country that he reentered that border that we are supposed to have functional control over. His procedural history mr. Speaker, is ever every bit as disturbing in may of 2011. He was convicted and sentenced to 46 months in prison for illegal reentry. He was released from the bureau of prisons to a city of sanctuary. San francisco did not prosecute the old drug case. They dismissed it which surprises exactly no one and then released this defendant. They did not return him to the bureau of prisons or federal probation. They did not honor the detainer that had been placed by i. C. E. They released him who was not supposed to be in the country in the first place with this horrific criminal history. They released him, so he would be free to walk around and shoot someones daughter, which is exactly what he did. Mr. Speaker we are given a litany of excuses. I have heard them this morning, for policies like this. We are told that we need policies like the one in San Francisco so people will cooperate with Law Enforcement. I want you, mr. Speaker, to consider, just utterly illogical that comment is. We need to release known criminals back into society. So society will help us catch known criminals. How absurd is that . That we are going to release people that should be deported that are repeat felons so other people will help us catch those who should be deported. For almost five years mr. Speaker, i have worked along side chairman goodlatte, and i have heard a litany of phrases with almost cat tonic frequency such as like, functional control over the border, but i have yet to hear how someone can reenter five times if you have functional control over the border. I heard we need citizenship for 11 million, as if 11 million of any category can pass a background check. I heard arguments against empowering state and local Law Enforcement to assist in the enforcement of our immigration laws, mr. Chairman. Now stop and think, we trust them to do murder cases, sex assault cases kidnapping cases narcotics trafficking. You even trust them to provide security, mr. Speaker, at their own functions back in the district. When it comes to immigration law, no, sir we dont trust you to enforce immigration law. Everything else, including our own security, here and in washington and back in the district, but god forbid we trust local cops to help us with immigration law. The president says we need Immigration Reform so folks will, to use his words, come forward, get on the books, get right with the law. I want to ask yourself, what in mr. Lopezsanchezs background would come forward and why in the hell does he need to be on the books. He is in the bureau of prisons. And you had him and you let him go. Which brings me to my favorite phrase mr. Speaker sanctuary cities. It has almost a utopian sound to it doesnt it . Well as the speaker knows, the definition of sanctuary is a place of refuge and safety. My folks in fran and my colleagues who support this policy, is a refuge for whom . A sanctuary for whom . A refuge for kate steinle . A sanctuary for kate steinle or a refuge for a convicted felon with a 25yearlong criminal history . So the phrase sounds benign. But it was no sanctuary for her. It may have been for him. But it sure as hell wasnt for her. Mr. Speaker, my message to San Francisco would be simple, you wont honor our detainers, we wont honor your warrants. If detainers are too much for you to handle perhaps federal money will be too much to handle to. If you cant handle our detainers, you arent going to get any more money. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. All time for debate has expired. Pursuant to house rule 370, the previous question is ordered on the bill. The question is on engrossment and third reading of the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it, third reading. The clerk a bill to amend 241i of the immigration and nationality act to deny assistance to a state or political subdivision of a state that prohibits its official from taking certain actions with respect to immigration. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . I have a motion to recommit at the desk. The speaker pro tempore is the gentleman opposed to the bill . I am opposed to it in its current form. Mr. Goodlatte mr. Speaker, i reserve a point of order. The speaker pro tempore a point of order is reserved. The clerk will report. The clerk mr. Jeffries of new york moves to recommit the bill h. R. 3009, to the committee on the judiciary with instructions to report the same back to the house with the following amendment. Add at the end the following, section protecting local communities from cuts to Law Enforcement. The attorney general may not reduce or eliminate under this act or the amendment made by this act any sums provided to a state or political subdivision of a state if the attorney general determines that such reduction or elimination would result in one, an increase in the overall crime rate in that state or political subdivision, including an increase in Domestic Violence sex trafficking or crimes against children or two, a decrease in the number of trained Law Enforcement officers in that state or political subdivision, including Community Police that are available to protect the public. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Jeffries mr. Chair this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as amended. The murder of kate in San Francisco was a National Tragedy that certainly shocked the conscience of america. We must continue to mourn her passing, we must continue to stand behind her family. We must continue to make sure that her killer is prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But we should not respond with irresponsible public policy. Our founders indicated that the house of representatives is supposed to reflect the passions of the people. But the passions should be properly channeled into an appropriate legislative vehicle. On december 14, 2012, 20 children were brutally gunned down in the sandy hook elementary school. More than 30,000 additional americans have died as a result of gun violence since that fateful day. 952 days have passed. This house has done nothing. On june 27 2013 the Senate Passed a bipartisan comprehensive Immigration Reform bill. 52 democrats, 14 republicans two independents. That bill would have secured our borders. That bill would have reduced the deficit by more than 850 billion over 20 years. That bill would have required undocumented immigrants to learn english, pay back taxes, pass a criminal background check and then get at the back of the line. 757 days have passed, this house has done nothing. Instead were here today considering a misguided legislative response to a terrible tragedy. That is why i offer this amendment, which will prevent the elimination or reduction of funds to state or local Law Enforcement organizations if the attorney general determines that the elimination of funding would result in an overall increase in the crime rate, particularly with respect to Domestic Violence, sex trafficking and crimes against children. Or if it would result in a decrease in the number of trained Law Enforcement officers on american streets. The constant burn jag programs are essential to Public Safety and should not be used as a blunt force weapon to carry out a reckless and irresponsible antiimmigrant agency. Thats why the national from a term order of police fraternal order of police and the Major County Sheriffs Association of america all oppose the underlying legislation. In a letter dated july 15 the National Fraternal order of police expressed, quote, their strong opposition to any amendment or piece of legislation that would penalize Law Enforcement agencies by withholding federal funding or resources from Law Enforcement assistance programs in an effort to coerce a policy change in socalled sanctuary cities. In offering this amendment, i stand with Law Enforcement. In offering this amendment, i stand with the statue of liberty that sits in new york harbor. With the words, give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. In offering this amendment, i stand with the United States constitution and the 10th amendment limitation on the federal governments ability to commandeer state or local Police Authorities into the service of federal areas of enforcement. In offering this amendment, i stand with the scripture in matthew, the 25th chapter, 35th verse where it says i was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirstity and you gave me thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition . Mr. Goodlatte in opposition to the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore does the gentleman withdraw his reservation . Mr. Goodlatte i do withdraw my reservation. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Goodlatte thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i urged my colleagues to oppose this motion to recommit i urge my colleagues to oppose the motion to recommit it. Would give discretion to the attorney general of the recommit. It would give the discretion to the attorney general of the United States. This is the same attorney general of the United States who has already, new to the position, but already indicated her unwillingness to enforce title 8 section 1373 of the United States code. Related to the requirement that cities of all and all other Government Agencies communicate with the immigration and Naturalization Service. The enforce they enforce the law the enforce the law for sanctuary cities act helps to address one of the main factors contributing to the collapse of Immigration Enforcement in the United States. Hundreds of sanctuary cities are violating federal law by prohibiting their Law Enforcement officers from sharing information with federal immigration authorities to enable the removal of unlawful and criminal aliens. This bill will finally establish penalties to persuade these jurisdictions to comply with longstanding federal law. Sanctuary cities present a clear and present danger to their citizens. In the first eight months of 2014, they released 8,145 aliens who the department of Homeland Security wanted to deport. Very quickly, almost 1 4 of these aliens were arrested again for new criminal offenses. Most recently San Franciscos refusal to honor a d. H. S. Detainer resulted in the tragic death of kate steinly. This is not an isolated incident. This is something that will continue again and again and again unless these cities start cooperating with Law Enforcement. And, yes, there are many other things that need to be done to protect american citizens from unlawful criminal aliens besides this bill. Those should be brought to the floor as well. But this bill represents an important first step in making rowing jurisdictions comply rogue jurisdictions comply with federal law and safeguard their communities. We will take further steps in the months ahead to ensure enforcement of immigration laws but we have to start today. Federal grants, and there are three categories of grants covered by this legislation are not indictments to the states. They are gratuities that congress has chosen to give to the states. The Supreme Court has held that congress can place restrictions or conditions on the receipt of federal funds to further policies that are aimed at protecting the general welfare. I support these Law Enforcement grants. But the solution to potential loss of these funds is simple. Eliminate the policies that violate federal law. Eliminate the policies that proprohibit information sharing with the immigration and Customs Enforcement prohibit information sharing with the immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and they will receive this funding. They will also receive safer communities. Communities that are sanctuaries for lawabiding citizens, not sanctuaries for criminals. This legislation must be passed to protect american citizens and do right by them and do it in the honor of people like kate steinly who gave her life because of these bad policies. I urge my colleagues to oppose the motion to recommit, support our guest is gregory chen. Later sarah ferris will join us to talk about the release of two videos of land parenthood planned parenthood. We also take your calls. You can join the conversation on facebook and twitter. Cspan gives you the best access to congress. Live coverage of the house congressional hearings, and news conferences, bringing you events that shape public policy. We are live with policymakers and journalists and your comments. Cspan, brought to you as a Public Service by your local cable or satellite provider. Secretary of state john kerry was joined by the treasury secretary on capitol hill to take questions about the Iran Nuclear Agreement. Come to order. I want to thank the witnesses for being here today. And we look forward to a fulsome hearing. I want to thank those, also in attendance. I know there was a little bit of an outbreak prior to us convene convening. We thank you for being here. We do hope youll respect that now the meetings in order. Outbursts of any kind are unwarranted and will respect the democratic process that is taking place here. So, again, we thank you for beg being here. We also thank you for your courtesy as we move ahead. I know the witnesses have agreed to be here as long as we wish. So well start with sevenminute questions. I do know based on last nights presentation, theres sometimes a tendency for witnesses to want to interject. And what i would say is, obviously we conduct our meetings with a lot of respect and courtesy. And i would just ask the witnesses if they would to respond directly to the question from senators on both sides of the aisle as if they ask when you ask it directly to a witness witness getting them to respond. If someone else wants to interject, they can indicate they want to do so. Senators should feel free to say, no, i just wanted that witness and move on to the next to make sure that we dont end up in a somewhat filibustered situation. Were able to fully get our questions answered. We would not be here today we would not have the information that we have today if we had not passed the Iran Nuclear Agreement review act. This would not be taking place. I think the American People now understand what this debate is all about. When congress put in place sanctions to bring iran successfully to the table as we did, we granted the executive Branch Something called a National Security waiver. What that meant was the executive branch had the ability to weigh our congressionally mandated sanctions to suspend them until such a time as we permanently waive them down the road. And as you know, unfortunately, over the objections of senator carden and myself, unfortunately, the executive branch went directly to the United Nations this monday morning. Something that was certainly not in the spirit of this this was what was always intended. While secretary kerry said its one point in time. We read the agreement and realize what they meant was eight years from now, they would have the opportunity to weigh in because thats what its thats whats stated in the agreement. So i want to thank everybody. All 19 members for coming together unanimously making that happen. And giving us a role, its a heavy lift, as we know. But a role that did not exist prior to that passing. I would like to say we had a briefing last night and i talked to both sides of the aisle. I was fairly depressed after last nights presentation. With every detail of the deal that was laid out our witnesses successfully batted them away with the hyperbole that its either this deal or war. Therefore, we were never able to appropriately question or get into any of the details because every time we did, it was either this deal or war. I believe that to be hyperbole. By the prior administration. I dont know if hell refer to that today but as i thought about it laying last night in bed, i realized that what he was really pointing out with that letter is unless we give iran what they want x, thats what that letter was used for last night. Let me walk through that. Weve been through an incredible journey. We began 20 months or so ago with a country that was a rogue nation. That had a boot on its neck. And our goal was to dismantle their program. Weve ended up in a situation where its a deal on the table basically codifies the industrialization of their Nuclear Program. Its amazing, amazing transition that has occurred. And yet, everyone here, not a person in this room, including our witnesses, everyone here knows theres not one practical need for the program that theyre billing. Not one. Not one. Weve not had a single scientist, not a single witness can lay out any reason. Not a single reason for iran to be developing this program from the standpoint of what it means to them from a civil standpoint. Not one. Nine months after this agreement goes into effect, we realize that after mondays u. N. Adoption unless congress intervenes, in 90 days this will be implemented. And then six months after that all the sanctions will be lifted. Incredible. Now, therell be a few remaining sanctions. But the big ones that matter will be lifted. So well have access to billions and billions of dollars. Their economy will be growing, theyll be shipping all around the world. Its an amazing thing. And so what happens, i think all of us figured this out as we went through the deal. Right now, we have some leverage, but 9 months from now, the leverage shifts to them because we have a sanction snapback. What they have if we ever tried to apply that is whats called a nuclear snapback. The way the deal is structured, they can immediately just begin. They can say well, if you add sanctions, were out of the deal. They can immediately snap back. The possible military dimensions i think most of us call it the previous military dimensions because we know they were involved in that. Basically, that has no bearing, no bearing per the agreement. And i know our witness will say, well, if they dont deal with this properly, it wont implement. According to the agreement, it has no bearing whatsoever on whether the sanctions are removed or not. And that was such an important piece for everyone to know. Last night, we had witnesses saying, i never said that. Its been a part of our mantra from day one. Its been a part of their mantra from day one. Anywhere, any time. Inspections. Now, we have a process that theyre declaring is 24 days. But we all know thats not right. 24 days begins after by the way, the ia ea has found violations theyre concerned about. And then you give iran time to respond to that. And then by the time it kicks in, there is a 24day process. But it could be months. And as we know, in laboratories when theyre developing a nuclear warhead, its about this big, its very easy to cover things up like that. And all the all the focus has been on finding uranium and other aspects of this that are very difficult to find. I know this is the most comprehensive inspection regime weve had thats not true. Thats not true. Ive talked to secretaries of state and others, we had a far more comprehensive and rapid Inspection Program in iraq. Far more. And that certainly didnt service particularly well. Ben and ive written a letter asking for the additional materials that we dont now have. One of the items we dont have is regarding the agreement between iran and the iaea. And my sense is, were never going to get that letter. So the inspection entity that were relying on to find out whether iran is cheating, were not even going to have access to that agreement. Well, let me tell you this, we do know one of the characteristics is very interesting. We have a professional athlete that spends about a month there. Hes incredibly the role model. He is having incredible integrity. Hes a role model to the world. And i was talking to him a couple of weeks ago about the program that professional athletes go through for drug testing. Its incredible. That is any time, anywhere. There are qualities to this, im told i cannot get into. But there are qualities to this program that would not be unlike causing athletes to just mail in their own urine specimens in the mail and us believing thats where it came from them. So, look, ive got some questions. Were going to talk a little bit about who were dealing with here. Most of us have been to iraq many times. And ill never forget visiting odierno in baghdad and every time hed have on the coffee table the ifps. That were used to maim and kill americans. They were laying there on the coffee table, every single one of them made by iran. Once we developed the technology to counter that what they did next was develop something called an efp. Explosively formed penetrator. What they do is have an explosion that heats up copper to go through a piece of machinery to maim and dismember americans. This was all iran. Every single bit of it. Weve visited these incredible heroes that have lost in some cases, two rm aarms and a leg. In some cases, two legs and two arms. We see them all over the country. Theyre living with this today. This is the country that were dealing with. A country that created some of the most disturbing types and methods of maiming americans that have ever been seen. They tried to kill an ambassador here in washington, d. C. Not long ago. I mean, we know that. Ben and i went over to, with others, to the other day to see something the Holocaust Museum put together. A young man named caesar had taken photographs of the syrian presence, which by the way, iran supports. Syria would not even be in office if it would not be for iran. We went over many of you have seen it on the internet. Its an amazing thing. Its happening right now by the way, as we sit. Some people might say, well, that was iraq and i dont know should we have been there or not . This is happening this very second with the support of iran. Do you understand that . Peoples genitals right now being amputated. People are being electrocuted. This is happening. This very second. In a prison in iran. I mean in syria that iran some would say we havent done as much as we could to stop it because, because of these negotiations. When i was in college i wasnt a particularly good student. First part of college, i was interested in sports. The latter part, i was interested in working. I learned one thing i learned about the critical path. And all over our country. And i learned that you can start with Something Like this and you lay out a vision and you build it out. And begin with the end in mind and put first things first. Its the critical path. And what ive seen our secretary do is develop a tremendous warmth with irans foreign minister and talks about it often. But what i think youve actually done in these negotiations is codify a perfectly aligned pathway for iran to get a Nuclear Weapon just by abiding by this agreement. I look at the things that they need to do the way its laid out, and i dont think you could more perfectly lay it out. From my perspective, mr. Secretary, im sorry. Not unlike a hotel guest that leaves only with a Hotel Bathrobe on his back, i believe youve been policed. Fleeced. In the process of being fleeced, what youve really done here is you have turned iran from no now congress. A few weeks ago, you were saying that no deal. Is better than a bad deal. And i know theres no way you could have possibly been thinking about war a few weeks ago. No way. And yet, what you say to us now and said it over and over yesterday and ive seen you say it over and over in television that if somehow congress were to turn this down, if congress were to turn this down the only option is war. Whereas a few weeks ago, for you you, for you to turn it down, the only option is war. I dont think you can have it both ways. Let me just say this. If congress were to say these sanctions cannot be lifted, it wouldnt be any different than the snapback that we now have where in essence the United States on its own, the United States on its own can implement snapback. But my guess is, the other countries as youve stated before wouldnt come along. So, weve got to decide which way that it is. I know you speak with a degree of disdain about our regional partners when you describe their reaction to this deal. One of the things we have to remember is if we had actually dealt with dismantling their Nuclear Program they wouldnt be responding in the way they have. But not only is this not occur, in addition, we are lifting the embargo in eight years. I have no idea how that entered into the equation, but it did at the end. We are lifting conventional weapons embargo in five years. And in a very cute way with language in the agreement. Unbelievably, we are immediately lifting the Ballistic Missile testing program. Were lifting that ban. So id have to say that based on my reading and i believe that you have crossed a new threshold in u. S. Foreign policy. Where now it is a policy of the United States to enable a state sponsor of terror to obtain sophisticated, Industrial Nuclear Development Program that has one real practical need. That is what youre here today to ask us to support. I look forward to our testimony and the appropriate questions. Senator carden . Well, first, mr. Chairman, thank you very much for convening this hearing. Thank you to your entire negotiating team. Incredible service to our country. Incredible sacrifice to their families. And thank you for your dedicated service, hard work and what you have your service to america. The iranian Nuclear Agreement review act that senator corker referred to passed earlier this year was an effort by the members of congress to set up the appropriate review for potential deal with iran. We are extremely pleased after difficult negotiations we were able to get the vote of this committee, get the support of the white house and we accomplished two major objectives in passing that statute