Speech #980246791

This problem is not a trendy new issue. it is. in fact. decades old. We have talked about it endlessly and studied it from every possible perspective. several times we have walked right up to it as if to deal with it. only to walk away again. The problem is uncontrolled immigration and we still have not done anything to solve it. Remember all of the activity during the last several years? Countless hours of congressional hearings were held. numerous interagency studies were made. and a national select commission was organized to study the problem. After this groundwork was laid. the Senate passed a bill twice. The House. after much agonizing. also passed a similar bill. by a very narrow majority. At the conclusion of all of this activity. we really thought we would get an immigration bill signed into law this year. but election year politics have gotten in the way. and many now believe that the effort is dead for years to come. I. however. do not believe this. I believe that the American people want this legislation and that they will remember the politicians who stand in its way. Those who seek shortterm political advantage by attacking the legislation or by failing to provide needed leadership to speed its passage will be held accountable in the final analysis. The failure to deal effectively with this escalating national problem is a serious breach of responsibility to the American people. Those who turn their heads while certain special interest groups pursue selfish goals are in effect guaranteeing that the social and economic problems caused by massive. uncontrolled immigration will not only continue but also will multiply. Many of you know how deeply I feel about this issue. I do not serve on the committee that handles immigration. this is not an area that I am required to look at by the rules of the Senate. My sole motivaion in seeking a solution to this problem is to make certain that the people of this great country continue to have the advantages and benefits they have worked so long to secure. Uncontrolled immigration is not an issue that will go away. Instead. it will only get worse if we ignore it. Some have deluded themselves into believing that time alone will solve these problems.