Speech #990080196

Finally. the bill requires certain reports to be made to Congress. They are important reports. not just cosmetic. The reports are to come from the President or other members of the executive department and they are to come with respect to employers sanctions and employment verification provisions. legal and illegal immigration. the Legalization Program. the Visa Waiver Program. and the INS. A report is also required from the Comptroller General of the United States with respect to the implementation of employer sanctions provisions. including whether a pattern of discrimination on the basis of national origin has resulted against citizens or aliens authorized to work in the United States. That is a very important issue. The bill also establishes a commission to study how the United States and Mexico can work together to improve the economies of the two countries. Madam President. some concern has been expressed about the possibility that the employers sanctions provisions of S. 1200 will cause some employers to discriminate on the basis of national origir against certain U.S. citizens or alier authorized to work in the United States. mostly those. of course. who are authorized to do so under their green card. Because of the importance which that issue has for all of us in this body. let me just comment briefly on the issue now. My view can be stated very simply: No convincing evidence or argument has been presented that such discrimination will occur. and the evidence that is available indicates that it would not.