Mr. Speaker. I am introducing a measure today. which I had introduced in the 89th Congress. to amend section 212(a) (14) of the Immigration and Nationality Act in order that the former labor provisions of the immigration laws may be restored. Under the old law. the Secretary of Labor. from time to time. if the need arose. would sign a certification disapproving the admission of certain workers because their admission would adversely affect the labor market in the United States. Under the new law. the exact oposite is true. With only a few exceptions. all intending immigrants must first secure approval. or labor certification. from the Secretary of Labor. stating that their admission will not adversely affect U.S. citizens similarly employed. before their application for immigration will receive even initial consderation. This harassing requirement has given the Labor Department almost complete control over the ebb and flow of our immigration. We have been told that the purpose for this requirement is to help ease unemployment in the United States. Yet. not too long ago. the Attorney General said in San Francisco that immigrants add but a tiny fraction to our total labor force. In addition. immigrants are not all workers. but include wives and families. who become consumers and add to the demand for goods and services. This is actually a helpful force for expanding our economy and creating new jobs. The new procedure has also bogged down our Labor Department with thousands of applications for labor clearance and has multiplied the paperwork of Government agencies throughout the country.
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Immigration immigration immigrants