Speech #980213629

I think that the possibility of sanctions working is excellent. What it will do is force the employer who is now exploiting by not paying prevailing wages. to see to it that pay and working conditions are proper. This alone will take away from that employer the incentive that he now has to hire the undocumented. I firmly believe that if Members of this House were to examine very carefully what this amendment will do. they will vote in favor of the amendment. They will realize that existing laws are being violated. that the law now has criminal penalties involved. but that no criminal penalties have been imposed simply because these laws have not been enforced. I firmly believe that by the enforcement of these laws that the incentive to hire the undocumented will be almost nonexistence. My approach to enforcement. I believe. is more efficient. because instead of embarking on a new and unproved regulatory and legal system in labor enforcement. we put our resources into existing labor laws based on current recordkeeping requirements.