Speech #970147913

Most importantly. the bill will contain provisions intended to reduce the problem of illegal immigration. Intense illegal immigration pressure on the United States will decline only if (a) the availability of U.S. employment is eliminated. (b) the disparity in wages and working conditions is reducedeither through improvement in the Third World or deterioration in the United States. I will say. too. we should do all in our power to assist development In the Third World. But we must remember that the achievement of substantially higher living standards is a longterm prospect at the very best. Since deterioration in the United States is certainly not an attractive resolution. only one approach remains: prohibiting the knowing employment of illegal aliens. In order to protect both employers and members of minority groups legally in this country. particularly Hispanic Americans. we will require a secure system to enable employers to verify that job applicants are authorized to work in the United States. It is claimed by some that a new verification system would pose a threat to privacy and civil liberties. I have given much sincere thought as to how. say. changing the form of the social security card. which is one of the available alternatives. could pose risks to our liberty. I have asked that question of manyfrom the ACLU to the chairman of the Civil Rights Commission. but no one has yet given a satisfactory answer. Othersnever known for their neglect of civil and human libertiesagree with me. including Father Ted Hesburgh. former chairman of the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy and of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. my great colleague from Massachusetts. Senator TED KENNEDY. who is the ranking member of the Senate subcommittee which I chair. and let me at this point thank the members of that subcommittee--Senator KENNEDY. and the minority staff director. Jerry Tinker. have been most helpful. most supportive. TED KENNEDY chaired this subcommittee for 15 years in this body and brought a depth of understanding and experience to our work that is critically important. and I thank him for his serious interest. and Senator CHUcK GRAs szy. who has spent many hours. who has sat through many hearings. and who has learned much. and who has earned my great admiration. and STROM THURMOND. the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. so very helpful. available for counsel and advice and guidance. a fine chairman and a gentleman. and DENNIS DECONCINI of Arizona. participating thoroughly. joining in the process. attentively assistinghis efforts are appreciated. so indeed then. we see the editorial writers of the New York Times. the Washington Post. the Los Angeles TimesMirror. the Boston Globe. the Chicago HeraldTribune. and other major newspapers around the country embracing the critical aspects of a universal employment authorization verification system. The bill also provides. of course. sanctions or penalties against employers who knowingly employ illegal aliens. and also penalties against persons who knowingly recruit or refer for employment such illegal.. . .:. The bill provides if employers and those who recruit or refer for employment can show that they have in good faith followed the procedures outlined in the bill with respect to a particular job applicant. they will not be subject to any penalties. Tough criminal penalties are provided for the production. sale. or use of fraudulent documents.