Speech #980210307

I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker. outside of national defense and the economy. there is no more important issue facing the country today than regaining control of our borders and enacting some responsible immigration legislation. It has been a great privilege to have served the better part of the last 3 V2 to 4 years with the gentleman from Kentucky. the gentleman from New York. the gentleman from California and others on the Immigration Subcommittee in drafting the product that is here on the floor this week. I know how hard it has been to draft a rule. It would be the height of irresponsibility to vote "no" on this rule. The only responsible vote is to give us a chance by voting yes on this rule to let the House work its will. Our population growth over the last couple of years. better than half of that population growth has come from legal and illegal immigration. and about half of that half. a quarter. in other words. of our population growth. has been from illegal immigration. Because of the fertility rate in the United States. and if it continues as it has been the last few years. for the next few years. by the year 2030. by the best estimates available. the very vast majority of our population growth will be from immigration. The way we are going. the vast majority will be by illegal immigration. I do not need to stress what others have already: The impact that has on jobs. But it certainly has an impact in many other ways. in our quality of life.