Speech #980043341

If we are saying now that we are going on a new departure to use the employer sanctions and new enforcement tools. I think equity and fairness say that we should move the legalization cutoff up to a more reasonable period of time. Two years was the period of time that I think should have been given in order to deal with the majority of undocumented aliens in our country. Only about a third of all the undocumented aliens will be affected by the legalization program contained in this legislation. So I do not think we have come to grips with that particular issue in an effective ways. The final concern I have is over the changes that we have made in the preference system. The preference system puts a priority on family reunification. and we have altered that process in an unfortunate way. which I feel is quite unrelated to the central issue of controlling undocumented aliens. I find that troublesome. Mr. President. Americas immigrant tradition is one of our greatest national assets and one of the greatest strengths of the American character. And I worry that. in too many provisions. this bill compromises this heritage in unacceptable ways. There is still time for these serious defects to be removed. I look forward to working with the House of Representatives as it moves a companion bill forward. and to resolving these critical issues in the HouseSenate conference. Congress has a responsibility to do a better and fairer job if immigration reform is to be worthy of the name. In conclusion. Mr. President. I want to stress again that I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with the chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee. I respect the positions he has taken. We do have a difference on several matters. but I do want to give him the assurance that as we go to the conference I will continue to work with him in every possible way to strengthen this legislation.