Speech #920282770

I rise in support of this bill. I would like to commend the committee and. in particular. the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. RooNmo) for the fine effort made to help reduce the number of illegal aliens working in the United States. It is clear that in recent years the number of illegal aliens entering the United States has increased rapidly. This is especially true in the Southwest United States and in my home State of New York. With these additional people available in the work pool. jobs that could go to American citizens and legal aliens are drained off the economy. The result is more people on welfare and a diminished opportunity for minority and lowincome workers to improve their economic status. While this measure will not solve the problem overnight. in the long run It will greatly reduce the incentive for coming illegally into this country. By placing civil and criminal penalties against the employer who knowingly hires the illegal alien. there is a better opportunity to eliminate the job market for this virtual slave labor. At the same time. we will help eliminate the oftentimes inhuman and unfair labor conditions under which these illegal aliens work. This particular bill. though. should be looked on as only a starting point. It does not address itself to other aspects of the problem. There is in operation. particularly in New York State. unscrupulous individuals who sell a packaged dream to immigrants. Unable in many cases to get into the country legally. the prospective immigrant from all countries throughout the world goes to these individuals and purchases his travel. forged papers. and all the other effects of a "good citizen" just to get into America. The Justice Department is already burdened in its efforts to apprehend these individuals and put them out of business. This legislation would provide an additional weapon in its fight.