House Passes Aderholt Amnesty Repeal Language in Department of Homeland Security Funding Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 14, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Aderholt Amendment" to defund the President's amnesty orders within the Fiscal Year 2015 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill.

"The amendment that I sponsored is an important first step of this new Congress," said Congressman Robert Aderholt, who, prior to serving as Chairman of Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee, chaired the Department of Homeland Security subcommittee. "It is important that we pass a conservative bill in the House so that the Senate can start from a position of strength.

"Legislation is a multi-step process, and that is true of this bill as key parts of it are being used as an addition to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill. It includes portions of a bill by my colleague, Rep. Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, but adds language originally offered by Rep. Marsha Blackburn to include Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and much of what has come to be known as 'the Morton Memos.' Simply put, the language defunds what has become known as the President's amnesty orders, and, among other things, restores the Secure Communities program.

"The President's unauthorized program known as deferred action is also terminated— no new applicants are allowed, and holders of a current deferral cannot get those renewed when they expire.

"Finally, the bill has language making it illegal for the President to use revenue from visa fees to fund his unconstitutional amnesty orders.

"Senator Jeff Sessions has been of tremendous help throughout the process. No one has worked harder on this issue than Jeff, and his efforts have been invaluable. Senator Sessions has his work cut out for him in the Senate, but it has been my intent all along for the House to provide him with a good, conservative bill to work from."

Congressman Aderholt serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the powerful House Appropriations Committee; he is also a member of the Committee's Defense Subcommittee, the Committee's Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee, and the Helsinki Commission.

For more information about Aderholt's work in Congress visit: www.aderholt.house.gov.

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