Speech #960328922

Mr. President. in his "Southwind" series dealing with the problems of the Mexican migrant to the United States. Richard Louv of the San Diego Union in his ninth article focused on what many believe is part of the solution to this complex problem. This proposed solution is the creation of a tempoary worker program such as proposed in S. 1427. the United StatesMexico Good Neighbor Act. which I have introduced. Hopefully such a proposal will be among the recommendations of the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy when it makes its report next year. S. 1427. which I encourage my colleagues to support. is based on modern studies such as those conducted by Dr. Wayne Cornelius. now of the University of California at San Diego. His studies have demonstrated that the typical Mexican undocumented worker is a young male who is not here permanently but works in the United States temporarily. Most of these workers are paid at or above the minimum wage rate. and they are taking jobs that. although necessary to our economy. are normally not filled by U.S. workers because they do not need to or because they offer little opportunity for advancement. Due to population pressures in Mexico. it can be reasonably foreseen that. these migrants will continue to seek enployment here unless we place a "Tortilla Curtain" on our southern border. Clearly. our strategic interests should favor a strong Mexico which. when developed. can employ its population gainfully. but until then. we should offer these persons legal employment that is needed in our economy. The benefits of S. 1427 are many. among them: The number of visas would relate directly to the availability of jobs. The workers are not tied by contract to a particular employer and thus the opportunity for exploitation is reduced. Having a legal status. the workers will be able to work to improve their working conditions and also draw upon private and public services they would be otherwise entitled to.