Speech #890137969

I hope they are deserved. I have worked very hard with the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts. during the course of hearings. deliberations of the subcommittee. and the full committee. and at other times. The distinguished junior Senator from Massachusetts has been in the forefront of efforts to write and enact a just and fair immigration reform bill. He has worked very diligently and tirelessly in championing this cause. As actingsubcommittee chairman. he has called meeting after meeting. He has listened with great fairness to all sides presenting their views. Without the Senator from Massachusetts having been so indefatigably dedicated to the passage cf this bill. we would not have a reform immigration bill on the Senate floor today. I commend him in the highest term for the very fine and excellent leadership in drafting and guiding this bill to the Senate floor. Mr. President. it is quite an event when the descendant of an immigrant from Ireland stands on the floor of the Senate with the descendant of an old family from Boston. as represented by the senior Senator from Massachusetts . and the Senator from Ohio . who a while ago said his ancestors came from Yugoslavia. and the descendant of an immigrant who came from China. stand on the floor of the Senate today and together agree that we have at last a bill which is fair. just. and equitable. which does justice to all the people of the world. and which we think should be enacted. It is a great credit to the U.S. Congress that we have arrived at this day.