Speech #930279061

Mr. President. I am introducing today a bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. The bill is an effort to contribute an additional legislative alternative in the continuing discussion over how to deal with the issue of illegal aliens. A great deal has been said about this issue in recent years. and the time is long overdue for Congress to enact meaningful legislation in this important area of public policy and concern. The bill I am introducing today accomplishes these principal objectives: First. the bill provides an authority to regularize the status of illegal aliens. and other aliens present in the United States in violation of law. who have been physically present in our country for at least 3 years and are otherwise admissible for permanent residence. Second. the bill places reasonable sanctions on the employers of illegal aliens. Third. the bill provides for the adjustment of status of nonimmigrant aliens from Western Hemisphere countries on the same basis as nonimmigrant aliens from Eastern Hemisphere countries. And fourth. the bill amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to bar job discrimination against "aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence." Mr. President. I am extremely hopeful that humane and meaningful legislation incorporating these objectives will be enacted by Congress within the near future. I am equally hopeful that additional immigration reforms will also be accomplished very soon. These reformsinvolving a worldwide asylum policy for refugees. the more equitable allocation of visas to immigrants from Western Hemisphere countries. and other mattersare contained. in the main. in H.R. 981. which is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee. and S. 2643. which I introduced last November. Mr. President.