When fires rage. when flood waters overflow their banks. when volcanoes erupt. the emergency authority of local officials to preserve the public good and restore order is a clearcut given. Emergency circumstances require emergency authority. We must apply the same principle in an immigration emergency. We must grant the President those powers now and not delay consideration until we are in the middle of another immigration emergency. Emergency powers is the only major provision dealing with our national immigration situation that has hither to been ignored. This issue should come as a surprise to no one. Over a year ago the administration submitted its immigration proposals to Congress. Included prominently among its suggestions was a provision expanding Presidential powers in the event of an immigration emergency. Perhaps some feel that the emergency powers provisions will be controversial. Amnesty itself is controversial. Employer sanctions is controversial. Elements of the H2 program are controversial. Immigration policy best to deal with our countrys immigration problem is fraught with controversy. Let us accept that. and move on. Senator SimpsoN has assured Senator CHILES and me that he will hold hearings on the subject of emergency powers later this year.
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