Speech #990084585

Mr. President. I am voting in favor of S. 1200. the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1985. because I believe it represents a well reasoned approach to a national problem of growing proportions. a national problem which touches delicate nerveendings of many aspects of our American life and beliefs. This bill provides an approach to sanctions on those who knowingly hire illegal aliens that I believe is fair to business. By exempting small businesses with less than four or more employees and making the paperwork requirments on covered employers optional. S. 1200 is responsive to the legitimate hiring concerns of employers. While I believe these provisions are fair to businesses. I am not so certain about the fairness of these provisions to foreign sounding and looking people. The potential for discrimination resulting from passage of S. 1200 poses a challenge to all proponents of immigration reform. As I vote in favor of final passage of this bill. I look forward to the hearings and continuing oversight on the issues of discrimination and proposed remedies that Senator SIMPSON has promised. The legalization programs envisioned by this bill. while modest. should prevent stimulated immigration by making effective controls on immigration a prerequisite for a legalization program. As we deal with this pressing national problem. I believe a cautious approach to sensitive issues such as legalization is the wise course. This legislation. as I have noted above. is not perfect. but given the nature and scope of the problem. perfect legislation is highly elusive if not altogether impossible. I do believe that this bill and the adopted amendments provide many protections to resident and prospective aliens. without sacrificing any protection for American jobs and laborers. It is imperative that the Senate recognize that final passage of this bill does not end the immigration problem. rather. it merely begins a new process for dealing with this problem. We must continue to be vigilant in our monitoring of immigration to ensure control of our borders which is conceptually faithful to our democratic heritage. Fairness to the American people. employers. and the alien population must be the foundation upon which we proceed with these reforms.