Speech #980256089

The lameduck consideration of SimpsonMazzoli during the 97th Congressjust two years agoresulted in opponants offering some 300 amendments. which forced the bill to be killed as legislative time conveniently did not permit its meaningful consideration. At that time. there was the suggestion that we start afresh in the upcoming Congress. Well. since then. nearly 2 maillion people have been apprehended by the border patrol (and at least 4 million successful illegal entries have occurred). Let me be clear: nothing can be gained from further delay. The moment of legislative decision has arrived. It is now time for Congress to fulfill its legislative responsibility. Four administrations of both parties and the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy have agreed that it is necessary to "demagnetize" the attraction of employment in this country if we are to have any chance of meeting the challenge of uncontrolled illegal immigration. In this regard employer sanctions constitute the heart of the SimpsonMazzoi measure. This provision provides that penalties be imposed on those who knowingly hire. refer or recruit undocumented aliens for employment in the United States. Additionally. the bill contains numerous antidiscrimination provisions that will ensure that it is applied in an evenhanded fashion regardless of whether an individual is blondhaired and blueeyed or darkhaired and browneyed. In those instances where undocumented workers take Jobs that domestic workers are unwilling to fill (as is often the case with respect to agriculture). both the House and the Senate versions contain variations of a program to allow agricultural workers into the United States if and only if there is a demonstrated shortage of domestic workers. The adjudication provisions of the bill are designed to alleviate the abuse of our laws