Speech #980089376

Speaker. we have reached the eve of our summer recess and I would like to extend to each and every one of my colleagues a very happy recess and fine times with their families. That is the happy note. The sad note is that we have reached this point in the development of the legislative history of the 98th Congress without having taken under consideration the Immigration Reform and Control Act. This represents the JSE 23133 third year that the gentleman from Kentucky and other Members of the Judiciary Committee and the Congress on both sides of the Capitol have worked on this bill. We have had no opportunity. at this point. to consider the question of the exploitation of the undocumented workers which continues. We have had no consideration of the unemployment of U.S. citizens because of competition from undocumented workers. That continues. We have not taken into consideration the detention of true refugees and the freeing of economic migrants. which continues. All these things are dealt with in the Immigration Control and Reform Act. I would suggest and recommend and hope that the House will upon its return to duty in September release to the floor for consideration the Immigration Reform and Control Act. In the words of Father Theodore Hesburgh. who chaired the panel on the subject of immigration reform. "Unless the back door is closed. and that is the door through which the undocumented enter. the front door. which is the door through which the immigrants and the refugees enter. will not be kept open."