Speech #970256537

Mr. Speaker. in yesterdays Wall Street Journal. there was an article on potential labor opposition to H.R. 6514. the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1982. The thrust of the opposition centers around bringing temporary workers into the United States. The AFLCIO is seeking restrictions on the H2 program. as the temporary workers program is called. that requires certification by employers that they could not find U.S. workers for Jobs to be filled by the H2 laborers. The union also supports guarantees that H2 workers would have adequate wages and working conditions while in the States. I applaud the AFLCIOs position on this issue. As I have said before. how can we complain about immigrants taking jobs from U.S. citizens. and at the same time try to expand our pool of temporary workers? This is an obvious paradox. The article also mentions the opposition of church groups to the elimination of the legalization program for undocumented persons already residing in the United States. I also applaud this action by these organizations. The legalization program is crucial to the Hispanic community. What seems to be unraveling is that H.R. 6514 is not ready to be considered by the House. Establishing a new. realistic. and effective immigration policy is one of the most important issues to be considered by this Congress. It is certainly too important an issue to be taken up during a "lameduck" session. We need a new immigration policy. H.R. 6514 is a start. but let us consider the issue further. ironing out all real and potential problems. before deciding on what our new immigration policy should be. I submit the Wall Street Journal article for the RECORD. (From the Wall Street Journal. Dec. 2.