Garner Cline. for their consistent support. Let me review briefly what has transpired leading to the development of this legislation. First. the most recent three administrations have proposed major immigration reform. Presidents Ford and Carter. and now President Reagan. have recognized the importance of immigration. And all three proposed strikingly similar packages to deal with it. All elements of earlier formulations are in the bill I am introducing. The Attorneys General who served under the three Presidents I citedespecially our present Attorney General. William French Smithceserve special commendation for their interest in immigration. Frankly. as I told Attoi ney General Smith when he came before our subcommittee: When they were wooing you to leave sunny California to come to Washington. I doubt that anybody bothered to a .vise you that the nettlesome immigration question would be sitting there in the middle of your desk as the first of your many hot potatoes. But. to the Attorney Generals credit. he has plunged into this issue with full dedication. I hope he and the President will give their full and influential support to the bill Senator SIMPSON and I have drafted. Another element which helped produce our bill on immigration reform was the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy. which was established 4 years ago by Congress and which. just 1 year ago. issued the most comprehensive report and set of recommendations on Immigration since 1911. That Commission was chaired by Father Hesburgh. as I noted. one of the most talented individuals of our age. Having chaired my own subcommittee in the study of this multifaceted issue for the past year.
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Immigration immigration Refugee