FISCHER OPPOSES SCHUMER-CORKER-HOEVEN AMENDMENT

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement upon voting to oppose advancing the Schumer-Corker-Hoeven amendment:
“Though I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues, the Schumer-Corker-Hoeven amendment falls short on a number of critical border security issues. Rather than simply throwing taxpayer money at the problem with promises of dramatic improvements, we need a proposal that brings about verifiable, measurable results along the southern border. I support a carefully crafted border security plan that is strategy-driven, cost effective, accountable, and responsive to the needs of law enforcement officials, who have expressed concerns with the legislation. Without a fully secure border, the United States will find itself in the same dire straits further down the road.
“This amendment also provides provisional legal status to illegal immigrants long before border security is achieved. With this legal status comes almost certain access to billions of dollars in federal benefits – all at the expense of taxpayers. I remain opposed to granting federal benefits to those who have broken our nation’s laws and come to the United States illegally. 
“In short, American taxpayers demand – and they deserve – better policy than the
Schumer-Corker-Hoeven amendment.”
Specifically, Senator Fischer has the following concerns with the Schumer-Corker-Hoeven amendment:

• The metrics to determine operational control of the border remain vague and
  undefined;
• Determination of operational control is left to the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security;
• There is no congressional approval required to determine if the border is fully
  secure;
• There is no biometric entry/exit system, only an electronic entry/exit system at air and seaports – not land entry-points;
• The amendment fails to require full operational control of the southern border
  before initiating the legalization process;
• The amendment allocates $46.3 billion in federal funding (with taxpayers directly responsible for $38 billion) without first requiring a strategic plan for the implementation of a border security plan; and
• The amendment contains a loophole that could allow illegal immigrants who have attained Registered Provisional Immigrant status to be eligible for means-tested taxpayer benefits, such as food stamps and Medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office has indicated this will likely cost hardworking taxpayers nearly $260 billion over the next decade