Speech #970133598

As Senator HUDDLESTON has stated. I have been heavily involved on this issue for nearly 3 years. During the course of my hearings on Immigration. I have heard from all sides and then some. I have taken special measures to insure 32008 cO that hispanics. blacks. and other minority groups have participated fully in our deliberations. We have talked to and accepted testimony from a varied array of businessmen. workers. growers. union officials. scholars. lawyers. and Government officials and politicians. I have had discussions witAh many members of the executive branch. including conversations with the President. And. of course. both as a Member of the Senate and of the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy. I have heard from thousands and thousands of Americans. most of whom are terribly disturbed and frustrated by the current state of our immigration laws and system. The Senator from Kentucky has set an example for us all during our understanding and education on this issue and the immigration legislation he has introduced. S. 776 has been of great guidance to us. I am concerned. just as he is. that we promptly do something about our immigration problems. And I am concerned. as he is. that what we do be right and responsible not just for today. but for many years to come. That is why I have been spending an extraordinary amount of my Senate efforts on this issue alone. To answer the Senators question directly. may I point out that we have not quite finished all of our hearings on immigration. but we are very close to doing so. The other members of the subcommittee and I will work with many of our colleagues and especially the distinguished Senator from Kentucky. during and after the time of our last hearings. And. we will introduce a draft comprehensive immigration reform bill in the early days of the new session of Congress. I trust that the Members of the Senate will take the opportunity to examine the new bill in light of the 3 years of effort on my part and the many years of effort by Senators HUDDLESTON and KENNEDY. among others on both sides of the aisle. that has gone into its creation. and that they will actively support it in the weeks to come. I assure the distinguished Senator that I will do everythng within my power to have this bill reported out by March 1982 and that I will press for its consideration on the floor as early in the next session of this Congress as it can possibly be brought up.