Speech #980210291

So now is the time. The problem is such that we cannot stay with the status quo. The status quo confronts us with this situation: Millions. an unknown amount. of undocumented aliens. who today live in a shadow society. The bill before us deals with this problem. attempts by affording those people an opportunity to come out of that shadow society and live legally and decently and to seek and obtain the legal protections that must be provided to this vulnerable population. At the current time we have employers who are profiting from our refusal to deal with a tremendously difficult situation. This rule that has been adopted by the Rules Committee is fair. is far more than generous. and affords us an opportunity to be able to resolve this very difficult problem. If we do not respond to the growing undocumented alien problem. restrictionism and resentment may pervadeperhaps even controldebate on this subject in later Congresses. Finally. and most important. the American people expect us to discharge our responsibility to debateand if possible enactimmigration reform legislation. This is not a partisan matter. In fact. it never has been during the many years I have dealt with this subJect. The elements of H.R. 1510 have been supported by Democratic and Republican administrations. by a 2to1 majority of the Judiciary Committee this Congress. by an overwhelming majority of the Senate the past two Congresses. and by bipartisan Presidential Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy. H.R. 1510 is not a Democratic bill. nor is it a Republican bill. It is a bill which has and should enjoy widespread bipartisan support.