Boehner Backs Drake Discharge Petition to Force Vote on Bipartisan Border Security Bill

This just in...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today released the following statement in support of a discharge petition which Rep. Thelma Drake (R-VA) will file to force a vote on bipartisan legislation sponsored by Reps. Brian Bilbray (R-CA) and Heath Shuler (D-NC) – the Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement Act (H.R. 4088) – aimed at strengthening border security and ensuring that employers verify their workers are legal:

“The American people expect their leaders in Washington to work together to secure our borders, but Democratic leaders have been remarkably absent from that effort. In just the past year, this Majority voted to cut funding for the border fence, opened the door for illegal immigrants to receive taxpayer-funded services without showing proof of citizenship, and overturned a successful GOP proposal to prohibit taxpayer-funded federal benefits from being awarded to illegal immigrants. This is not what the American people expect from us, and since the Majority leadership has not stepped up on this important matter, House Republicans will take the lead.

“For far too long, the Democratic Majority has failed to deal with internal divisions within their caucus on border security and blocked a vote on this important bill. House Republicans will now give our colleagues – on both sides of the aisle – the chance to force a vote on this long-overdue legislation. I’m hopeful that rank-and-file Democrats will join House Republicans in supporting this effort. The American people expect action to secure our borders, and today’s announcement is a critical first step.”