{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=085b0537-9ff7-45ae-b223-2205cff00918", "FISCHER OPPOSES SCHUMER-CORKER-HOEVEN AMENDMENT", "2013-06-24", "2013", "2013-06", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Deb Fischer", "F000463", "www.fischer.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement upon voting to oppose advancing the Schumer-Corker-Hoeven amendment:\r\n\u201cThough 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.\r\n\u201cThis 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 \u2013 all at the expense of taxpayers. I remain opposed to granting federal benefits to those who have broken our nation\u2019s laws and come to the United States illegally.\u00a0\r\n\u201cIn short, American taxpayers demand \u2013 and they deserve \u2013 better policy than the Schumer-Corker-Hoeven amendment.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nSpecifically, Senator Fischer has the following concerns with the Schumer-Corker-Hoeven amendment:\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The metrics to determine operational control of the border remain vague and undefined;\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Determination of operational control is left to the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security;\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There is no congressional approval required to determine if the border is fully secure;\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There is no biometric entry/exit system, only an electronic entry/exit system at air and seaports \u2013 not land entry-points;\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The amendment fails to require full operational control of the southern border before initiating the legalization process;\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 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\r\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 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.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=085b0537-9ff7-45ae-b223-2205cff00918"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7583578117191792, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}