Speech #960256104

I think the legislative history that has indelibly been stamped today is that the amendment will address itself to the payment for such things as sopaipillas. or whatever the soul food from Haiti is. but not for pinto beans and tortillas or frijoles and tortillas. But I think it is to be lamented that in the course of this some statements have been made that I do not think are either accurate or fair. For example. the gentleman from California and others have sort of placed the entire blame for the lack of immigration law or policy on President Carter. The truth of the matter is that President Carter presented to the Senatein fact. the Senate started hearings the very first year that President Carter assumed the Presidency in 1977specific reference to amending the Immigration and Naturalization Act. which you will remember was codified in 1965 when the real mischief was done. But to blame the President for the lack of action on the part of the Congress I think is unfair. no matter how sympathetic I may be of the critical air that seems to surround President Jimmy Carter. In fact. poor old Jimmy Carter.