A prominent American once laid out a vision of our nation as “a safe and agreeable place” for “virtuous and persecuted people” from around the world. It wasn’t President Barack Obama or Sen. Chuck Schumer who articulated that vision; it was our first president, George Washington.
President Washington rightly viewed immigration not as an obstacle to our nation’s success, but as integral to it. And it is precisely because immigration is so critical to our success that we must get immigration reform right. The Senate bill, even if written with good intentions, has gotten immigration reform wrong.
The Senate’s comprehensive reform bill, passed in June, was immediately met with bipartisan opposition in the House of Representatives. Much like other “comprehensive” efforts, S. 744 was written behind closed doors, loaded with special-interest deals, and extends over more than a thousand pages.
Regrettably, rather than crafting a bill designed to improve our immigration system, the Senate crafted a political messaging mega-bill designed simply to win as many votes as possible. To win some of those votes, the Senate made promises on border security and enforcement that either can’t be kept or were made to be broken. America can do better, and we must. The House is committed to doing exactly that as we work to overhaul America’s broken immigration system.
While the most controversial ideas about immigration reform draw the most attention, a vast majority of Americans agree on common-sense ideas that we can pass today, like securing our border, enforcing our laws and reforming our visa system. By addressing these areas of common ground one bill at a time, we can build upon — rather than compromise — the values that have made America the greatest nation on earth. This is what we owe to the American people, to those who aspire to join our ranks, and to those who have paved the way.
This debate is neither hopeless nor new. Wise Americans have already laid the foundation for what our immigration system should look like. We have always wanted the hardest workers and the brightest minds from around the world, and James Madison said as much in 1790. The purpose of immigration, he said, is “to increase the wealth and strength of the community.”
Those words, and that vision, should echo throughout the halls of Congress once more today. My colleagues and I in the House are committed to reforming our immigration system to reflect that vision — one step at a time, on the floor of the House and in plain view of the folks we represent.
Special interests ask the question, “What is good for this group or that?” I ask the question, “What is good for America?” Presidents Washington and Madison answered that question more than 200 years ago, and the answer remains the same today. I am committed to charting a path forward on immigration reform. As long as we’re asking the right questions, the answers will be ones that make America strong and the American people proud.
Rob Woodall, a Republican, represents Georgia’s 7th Congressional District.
