Chairman. it is my intention to vote in favor of H.R. 16188. The time has come when we can no longer rely on the traditional method of employing sanctions against the alien alone to protect the jobs which properly belong to American citizens and aliens legally admitted for permanent residence. We in California are acutely aware of the adverse effect these large numbers of illegal aliens have had on the employment situation in the State. In many instances the illegal entrant to the United States finds it easier to get a job than a lawful resident because of his willingness to take undesirable employment for low wages. The public. of course. subsidizes this preference by paying the everincreasing costs of public assistance. unemployment compensation. and health care to those lawful residents left unemployed. While I would agree with the basic argument of the committee in reporting this bill that to solve the illegal alien problem. we must remove the economic incentive which draws the illegal alien to the United States. I am most concerned that employment discrimination may result. particularly against those of Mexican background in my area. There is a genuine fear in California. in the light of the enactment of a similar law in the State recently. that there would be wholesale layoffs by employers of thousands of aliens. illegal or legal. and that those with Spanish surnames would be identified and pointed out .as a special category in relation to the total work force.
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illegal alien illegal aliens