Speech #970030268

Mr. President. it has been nearly three decades since joint congressional hearings were last held on our Nations immigration policies. And it has also been three decades since we have thoroughly reviewed our immigration statute. which was fashioned over 50 years ago. Last week these years of neglect came to an end. I joined my distinguished colleague from Wyoming . and Congressman MAzzoLIthe chairmen. respectively. of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy and the House Subcommittee on Immigration. Refugees and International Lawin launching hearings on the report of the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policywhich is the first thorough review of our immigration law since 1935. Whether we are largely supportive or critical of the Select Commissions findings and recommendations. we all agree that its report represents a longneeded catalyst for action. I believe the joint hearings last week symbolize the importance we attach to this work of the Select Commission. and signal the urgency we feel over the need to move on immigration reform. Mr. President. by neglecting immigration for so many years. Congress allowed one of our countrys oldest traditions to become one of our most controversial and misunderstood issues. Instead of embracing our immigrant heritage. many Americans have come to fear it. In part. this reflects the mood of our times. and our preoccupation with stubborn and increasingly critical challenges at home and abroad. But part of the problem derives as well from our immigration law. which is out of touch with the times and out of control. To restore faith in our immigration lawsto establish an immigration policy that is both in Americas longrun interests as well as faithful to our humanitarian traditionswe must move on the proposals offered by the Select Commission. I am confident that with the bipartisan spirit already demonstrated in the arrangement of joint hearingsand with the cooperation already evident in the actions of our subcommittee chairmenwe will see some of the Select Commissions proposals translated into law in this Congress. I commend and support the initiative of Senator SIMPSON and Congressman MAZZOLI in holding these hearings. and I joined them in welcoming Father Hesburgh last week. As a member of the Commission I can say that his leadership was crucial in our deliberations. and responsible for the good foundation we now have for future progress in immigration reform. Mr. President.