Speech #980211609

It was recognized in the full committee that the recordkeeping and verification procedures are something else that would be added to the burden of doing business in this country and of providing jobs for people in this country. Adding to that burden was not something that was particularly desirable in the view of people who look at it from the business community standpoint. In place where you have problems with undocumented aliens in agriculture. feelings run a little bit differently about this. I guess. But in major portions of this country. there is not that concentrated concern about where the undocumented aliens are working. There are many employers who simply would not feel the need to have this affirmative defense that is provided by keeping the verification records. The committee voted to include in the bill that language that is now there. which this amendment seeks to replace. which says. in effect. that an employer does not have to have this affirmative defense available.