Even with the primary election behind us, I think it is important to
correct the record about Rep. David Dreier's votes regarding illegal
immigration. Rep. Dreier has always opposed amnesty and illegal
immigration. The following votes confirm that his record is
consistent with his public statements:
* Rep. Dreier voted against the Immigration Reform and Control Act
of 1986, which granted amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants. In
fact, during debate of the bill, Rep. Dreier, along with Rep. Carlos
Moorhead (R-Glendale), offered an amendment to increase the border
patrol by 50%. The amendment was approved by voice vote.
* Rep. Dreier, along with Rep. Moorhead, offered an amendment to
HR 4300, the Family Unity and Employment Opportunity Immigration Act
of 1990, which would provide for an increase of 1,000 in the
personnel level of the border patrol of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service. The amendment was included by voice vote.
* Rep. Dreier voted for an amendment offered by Rep. Duncan Hunter
(R-El Cajon) to HR 4092, the Crime Control Bill of 1994, which would
authorize the hiring of an additional 6,000 Border Patrol Agents and
support staff over the next five fiscal years. The amendment was
approved by a vote of 417 to 12.
* Rep. Dreier voted for HR 668, the Criminal Alien Deportation
Improvements Act of 1995, which would have amended the Immigration
and Nationality Act to address the problem of aliens who commit
serious crimes while they are in the Unites States and to give
federal law-enforcement officials additional means with which to
combat organized immigration crime. The measure was approved by a
vote of 380 to 20.
* Rep. Dreier voted for the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which increased border patrol
and investigative personnel, raised penalties for alien smuggling and
document fraud, reformed exclusion and deportation law and
procedures, and improved the verification system for eligibility for
employment. The bill was approved by a vote of 305 to 123.
* Rep. Dreier has led the effort to secure greater funding for the
State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which provides federal
assistance to states and units of local government incurring costs of
incarcerating illegal aliens. Most recently, Rep. Dreier helped
secure $250 million in 2003 and $300 million in 2004 for SCAAP.
Thank you for the opportunity to help clarify his record with your
readers. Additional information on votes cast in the House of
Representatives can always be found at the Library of Congress'
website at www.loc.gov.
MARK S. HARMSEN
District Representative
Rep. David Dreier
