Speech #990184082

LUNGREN. Mr. Speaker. at the honity - close of the 98th Congress. there was a great deal of finger pointing concern................................ 777.794 ing who was to blame for the delay of 0.401 629.772 .................. the immigration reform legislation. In 8.839 544.947 .................. fact. even before it was officially pro88.561 -188.561 .................. nounced dead. the Speaker sought to 0.679 986.159 777.794 avoid consideration with the argument that the administration did not support immigration reform. .................................................. Such deference to the adm inistration policy was not only rare. but certainly interesting in light of the fact ............ 4 .................. that administration officials had testified in support of the measure a total ............ -5. .................. of 28 tim es. Similar attempts to attach blame .................................................. followed the dem ise of the conference. The fact that controversy over the cre4.259 -6.001 765 ation of a new antidiscrimination appartus patterned after the NLRB. .................................................. along with the new cause of action for alien discrimination. occupied more -............ 380 .................. time than any other single issue in the conference seemed to be overlooked by those who were looking beyond them1.259 -6.420 765 selves for a culprit. In fact. the failure .................................................. to gain agreem ent on a lastm inute super deal that embodied not only antidiscrimination provisions. but some kind of cap on reimbursement to 272 185 .................. the States as well. led the chairman of 91 91 .................. the conference to officially pronounce 205 205 .................. its death. 14 14 .................. The fact of the matter is that while 100 75 .................. some of us swallowed hard and sup6 ...................................... ported the comprom ise. others could (37) (37) .................. not find the will to do so and voted to kill not only the proposal itself but 688 570 .................. any chance for immigration reform in .108 980.302 778.559 the 98th Congress. It should be noted that this was not entirely disappoint9.700 96.600 795. ing to many of the conferees because some happened to be opposed to the ............ 12.702 .................. bill in the first place. Also.