Speech #970273207

At a time of fiscal austerity. there is no need for Congress to create another EEOC. Under present law. only persons employng 15 or more employees are subJect to title VIIs employment discrimination prohibitions. The committee amendments. by permitting the Immigration Board to hear complaints of unfair treatment filed against persons employing more than three individuals. would effectively eliminate this exemption. Under H.R. 7357. therefore. "Mom and Pop" companies would not only be subject to criminal sanctions for violation of immigration laws. they would have to defend themselves against employment discrimination claims as well. The immigration legislation has already caused substantial concern within some segments of the business community. Not only are all segments of the business community concerned with a proposal creating a second EEOC to process cases involving national origin discrimination. but Members of Congress should be concerned as well. If some feel that EEOC only cares about race and sex claims. then steps should be taken to deal with that problem. Such steps. however. should not include creation of still another civil rights agency. We already have EEOC. the Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. title VI enforcement agencies within each Federal department. and State and local fair employment practices commissions. among others. Establishing a new civil rights bureaucracy will not solve the illegal alien problem. For these reasons. I must oppose the committee amendment.