WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17) appeared yesterday morning before a breakfast meeting of The Ripon Society, delivering remarks in which he not only criticized the ongoing government shutdown as being "the dumbest thing one can engage in," but called for a renewed commitment to bipartisan governance and comprehensive immigration reform.
"Here you have Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries -- who are long on record talking about the need to pass clean continuing resolutions and keep the government open -- now having shut the government down, in large part because they're trying to appease a partisan base," Lawler stated. "They're trying to appease a radical element of their party that wants them to fight, that wants them to stand up to Trump, that wants them to oppose anything Donald Trump does."
The New York lawmaker, who was rated the fourth most bipartisan member of Congress last session, emphasized his consistent opposition to government shutdowns regardless of which party controls the White House. "I voted eight times when Joe Biden was president to keep the government open and funded, and now with Donald Trump as president, to keep the government open and funded," he said. "Part of this is really continuing to make sure that when the shoe is on the other foot, how do you conduct yourself?"
Lawler noted that this sentiment is particularly acute among members of the Problem Solvers Caucus, which he serves on as a member.
"There's a real frustration between the Republicans and the Democrats on Problem Solvers,” he stated, “that every time the Republicans are in the majority, our Democratic colleagues don't buck their party. Bipartisanship requires consistency, and it has got to be a two-way street. It cannot be just Republicans acquiescing to Democrats every time."
Lawler also argued that bipartisanship is not merely aspirational, but essential given Congress narrow margins. As one of only three Republicans representing districts won by Vice President Kamala Harris in the last election — alongside Don Bacon of Nebraska and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania — Lawler stressed the mathematical reality facing lawmakers.
"Congress is pretty evenly divided,” he observed, “and if you're not willing to find that area of commonality in that middle ground, it's going to be very hard to get major legislation passed other than using reconciliation."
Turning to immigration, Lawler outlined his leadership role in advancing comprehensive reform through the Dignity Act, legislation he has helped author and spearhead across multiple Congresses.
"I fundamentally believe that immigration reform is among the highest priorities that we have to tackle in Congress," the New York Republican declared. "I'm 39 years old. Immigration has not been reformed since I was born — 1986. It's outrageous to think that in a country that needs immigration, that we can't figure out a path forward on this."
Drawing on personal experience — his wife is an immigrant — Lawler described the current system as "fundamentally broken" and outlined a three-pronged approach to reform. First, he praised the Trump administration's border security efforts while criticizing the previous administration's handling of asylum and parole processes.
"The way the Biden administration used the asylum and parole process was wrong,” he said. “They abused it. They misused it, and it created chaos across the country."
Second, Lawler addressed the status of more than 20 million undocumented individuals currently in the United States, advocating for a pragmatic middle path. While supporting deportation of criminals and those with final removal orders, he argued against mass deportations of long-term residents.
"When you start getting into people who have been here 5, 10, 15, 20 years, who have children that are American citizens or grandchildren that are American citizens, who have built a life in the community, who have not committed crimes — the idea that we're going to round them up and break up families and create havoc on the economy, to me, is not logical."
Instead, Lawler said he supports a path to legalization — not citizenship — requiring undocumented individuals to work legally, pay taxes and fines, avoid criminal activity, and refrain from receiving government benefits.
Third, and most importantly in his view, Lawler called for reforming the legal immigration system to meet America's economic needs. Citing declining birth rates and an aging population, he argued that the country needs workers across multiple sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, construction, and education.
"Our immigration system should be based on the economic needs of the country," he stated. "We want people to come here to participate in the economy, to help boost the economy, to help promote the workforce, to engage and enhance our culture."
To view Lawler’s remarks before The Ripon Society yesterday morning, please click the link below:
