Speech #980219591

Chairman. I am pleased to join my friend and colleague. ROMANO MAZZOLI. chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration. in support of H.R. 1510. legislation which is known as the Immigration Reform and Control Act. That this measure bears the name of our colleague is certainly a tribute to the countless hours of hard work he and his excellent staff have put into this effort to establish a coherent immigration policy. While there is controversy over any effort to amend the Nations immigration lawsand rightly soI do urge that the measure before us be approved. I believe it represents a workable consensus in this Congress and will serve as a excellent role model for making our immigration laws fair and equitable. Let me say that immigration problems are no stranger to my own district. Guam has long had considerable problems dealing with alien influxes and only recently I heard many complaints about how some of these people were treated by U.S. Immigration officials. Congressman MAZZOLIS bill sets up a framework of laws which will govern the manner in which we deal with alien immigrationboth those in the past and in the future. This measure will also establish a unique new Federal policy designed to stimulate foreign tourism into this country. The bill authorizes both the Departments of Justice and State to jointly establish a 3year pilot program for up to eight countries for the admission of foreign tourists without the need to first obtain a visitors visa. I have long urged the adoption by Congress of a program such as this and am pleased to see that Congressman MAZZOL and his colleagues have given it their endorsement. In my own congressional district. there are about 300.000 tourists annually entering Guam. The money they spend is vital to the local economy and is a stimulous to the local job market. I must also add that the money these tourists bring to Guam to spend is also a help in reversing the troubling deficit of credit we have with Asian nations such as Japan which is Guams biggest tourist market. There is simply no need to make potential tourist to first obtain visas if they are only going to stay in areas such as Guam for short periods of time. Past surveys have indicated tourists welcome any action which will make their international travel easier and less time consuming. Presently. Japanese tourists to Guam must spend considerable effort to obtain a U.S. visa before coming to the island. Congressman MAZZOLIs bill would remove this barrier and hopefully. in the process. encourage foreign tourism to Guam and other U.S. areas. This proposal is similar to one I have introduced in various Congresses.