Chairman. I had intended to stay out of the debate on this issue although I participated actively in the hearings we held across the country. I think that the debate on this particular amendment has brought our attention to the problem which came up in all of the hearings. * One of the things that has troubled me in the provisions of this legislationand I want to say that I enthusiastically support the billis that we have not really provided a method for the potential employer of illegal aliens some way to determine whether or not the person he is employing is in fact an illegal alien. In each of the hearings I asked the witnesses from the government agencies if it would not be helpful to have a special social security card. perhaps one of a different color. to designate an individual as an alien. not necessarily as an illegal alien. but as a noncitizen of the United States. This would at least be prima -facie evidence to the prospective employer that he should inquire further. and be alert to the possibility that the individual is an illegal alien. and under this proposed bill unacceptable for employment. So. although I agree with those who have said that the amendment before us would not accomplish anything constructively. I do hope in the legislative history that it has stimulated that it will serve notice to the Committee on Ways and Means and to the Social Security Administration that they share part of the responsibility for this problem of illegal alien employment in the United States. So I thank the gentleman from Texas for making that contribution.
Keywords matched
illegal alien noncitizen illegal aliens