Speech #980219586

If Federal sanctions work. it clearly will contradict all of the past experience we have with this approach. That is why I supported Representative ScHROEzmts amendment to sunset the employer sanctions statute after 3 years. and that is why I supported Representative ROYBALS proposals to more carefully enforce existing wage and hour and occupational health and safety statutes instead of instituting employer sanctions. Enhanced enforcement of worker protection statutes already on the books would have gone a long way toward making the jobs that are being filled by undocumented aliens more attractive to domestic workers. thus reducing the displacement of Americans in the job market and removing the magnet that draws foreign workers across the border to fill jobs that Americans wont take. We have amended this legislation to authorize increased funding for Immigration and Naturalization Service border patrols. visa and naturalization services. and personnel training programs. I strongly support this increased funding. Immigration control is an area that has been slighted for too long in the budget. If we want to regain control of our borders. we simply will have to spend more money for enforcement. The legislation also contains language prohibiting the INS from searching farmers fields without first obtaining a search warrant.