Speech #960273979

I rise this morning tc take strong exception to a recommendation by Attorney General Benjamin R Civiletti that all Americans carry a national work authorization card. Mr. Civiletti. a member of the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy. which is considering a national work card plan. spoke last week before the League of United Latin American Citizens here in Washington and endorsed the concept of requiring all persons in our country to present a "work card" as a requirement for employment. Mr. Speaker. I believe any such plan involving a national work card or identity card sets a dangerous precedent contrary to the principles of individual liberties which our country has so long honored and guaranteed. While I recognize the difficult agenda before the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy in recommending solutions to the steadily worsening illegal alien problem in our country. I reject the notion that registration of all working Americans is a necessary or acceptable answer. I would note that the Privacy Protection Study Commission in its final recommendations strongly opposed the Federal Government taking any action that would foster the development of a standard. universal identifier for individuals or a central population register. The Privacy Commission recognized that the use of standard documents for identification and authentication imposes a heavy cost on industry. government. and society as a whole and is also a concept inconsistent with Americas tradition of civil liberties. I might also note. that the proposed national work card plan would be a bureaucratic nightmare. The Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy envisions such a plan requiring the issuance of 13 to 15 million cards per year. or about 50.000 per day until all working Americans are covered. Eventually. over 100 million computer files would have to be created. The first year cost alone would be about $50 million. Surely. there must be a more costeffective and efficient way of crpe~kin rli":n on the growing number of illegal aliens and the employers who hire them. Mr. Speaker.