Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Date: May 7, 2015

Contact: Steven D. Smith

Steven.Smith@mail.house.gov

Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after taking several actions to prevent controversial amnesty language from being included in the fiscal year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that aims to allow illegal immigrants to serve in the United States Armed Forces:

“I am outraged that our military is being used as a pawn by certain members of Congress in attempts to advance President Obama’s unconstitutional amnesty. The House has voted multiple times against this lawlessness and illegal amnesty controversies should not jeopardize funding for our brave men and women in uniform. If implemented, such actions would further reduce opportunities for lawful American citizens who wish to serve at a time when the Pentagon is dramatically downsizing our total number of troops. 

“Members of the Armed Services proudly join the military to defend our liberties, to protect the American people and to enforce the rule of law. Upon entering the United States, illegal immigrants have already broken the rule of law and many only wish to serve to obtain permanent resident status. If this language is left in the NDAA, it potentially jeopardizes passage of this critical legislation. The last place an immigration debate should occur is in the Defense Authorization Act that authorizes funding for our troops.”

Background

Congressman Gosar introduced an amendment on May 7, 2015 to block language introduced by Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) that was included in the fiscal year 2016 NDAA committee report which aims to allow illegal immigrants to serve in the U.S. military. Committee report language has the force of law. Specifically, the Gosar amendment prohibits funds for Department of Defense (DOD) evaluations to study if illegal aliens covered by DACA could expand the pool of recruits in our Armed Services or benefit military readiness. The full text of Congressman Gosar's amendment can be found HERE. 

Congressman Gosar’s amendment is endorsed by Heritage Action, the Federation for American Immigration Reform and NumbersUSA.

Congressman Gosar cosponsored an amendment introduced by Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) on May 6, 2015 which aims to strip amendment language introduced by Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-7) that was adopted in the NDAA bill text.  The Gallego language encourages the Secretary of Defense to make illegal immigrants eligible to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces even though we are in the process of downsizing troop levels. The full text of that amendment can be found HERE.

Finally, Rep. Gosar signed onto a letter with 24 of his House colleagues that was sent May 5^th to the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, Congressman Pete Sessions (AL-05) requesting the controversial Gallego be stripped from the NDAA bill text due to the fact that the House already voted to defund DACA three different times. That letter can be found HERE.