Several Republican Senators, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), have joined Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) in his push for a Senate vote on a House measure that would defund Pres. Obama's executive amnesties. The bill, introduced by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and passed by the House on their final day of session before leaving for the August recess, would defund any efforts made by the administration to renew applications under Pres. Obama's DACA program and defund any future work permits.
Minority Leader McConnell's office issued a statement earlier this week.
"The President seems to have forgotten that he does not possess the authority to re-write our immigration laws and that, on the contrary, the Constitution requires that he take care that the laws be faithfully executed. The House has passed two bills to address the humanitarian crisis on our southern border, and the Senate should vote on them. That’s why I began the process of putting them on the Senate’s legislative calendar shortly before the current recess, and I urge Majority Leader Reid to schedule a vote on these bills as soon as the Senate returns."
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, also joined Sessions' effort.
"President Obama has repeatedly proven he will side step the role of Congress when he finds it politically expedient. On an issue of such significance, the American people deserve to have their voices heard through an open process. Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Democrats should allow a vote on the House-passed anti-DACA Bill. I am a cosponsor of a Senate version of this legislation and believe Americans’ elected representatives should be allowed to debate and vote on whether amnesty should be given to millions of illegal immigrants."
Sen. Sessions' colleague from Alabama, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and vocally opposed the Senate's emergency supplemental bill also called for a vote.
"I strongly oppose the President's attempts to circumvent Congress and unilaterally change our nation's immigration laws through amnesty programs like DACA. We must focus on enforcing the immigration laws currently on the books, securing our border, and ensuring that we do not reward illegal immigration. It is my hope that the Senate will expeditiously pass the House-approved bill that would block President Obama from continuing or expanding DACA."
Sen. John Hoeven (R-S.D.), author of the border amendment that helped secure the necessary votes to pass the Gang of Eight's bill, also urged Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to bring the anti-DACA bill to the floor for a vote.
"We believe that we should be allowed to vote on the House-passed bill. We need to enforce our immigration laws and secure the border."
The statements from GOP Senators comes as reports continue to speculate on the scope of an expanded executive amnesty from the Obama Administration. In 2012, Pres. Obama granted amnesty and work permits to illegal aliens 30 years of age or younger who could prove that they came to the country under the age of 15. A little more than 500,000 illegal aliens have taken advantage of the program. Pres. Obama is expected to expand the program to an estimated 5-6 million illegal aliens this coming fall in advance of the November mid-term elections. Republicans, looking to take control of the Senate, have stepped up their efforts to bring the Blackburn bill to the floor to get several Senate Democrats in toss-up states to take a public position on the issue.
