Speech #990264196

Mr. Speaker. with some reluctance I voted to oppose the rule on the immigration bill. I have no doubt that this country needs immigration reform. and I support the major principles of this legislation. Employer sanctions. when implemented with measures to prevent employment discrimination. seem to me to be the most effective way to reduce illegal immigration. I also believe that legalizing undocumented workers who have resided in this country for several years is both reasonable and just. However. I have major reservations about the Schumer farmworker proposal. Indeed. this is the most controversial part of the bill. but remarkably. the rule neither permitted a vote on the proposal nor did it allow the proposal to be amended. Allowing undocumented farmworkers who worked for just 60 days in agriculture to gain resident status and allowing large numbers of replenishment workers to replace them goes too far and is simply not in the best interests of our country. The Schumer proposal would greatly increase the cost of social service programs and would create added competition for jobs at a time when many American workers still cannot find work. We know what the main objection to the bill is and how to correct it. Lets not let one rule stand between us and effective immigration reform. I would like to urge my colleagues on the Rules Committee to adopt a fairer rule for consideration of this urgently needed legislation.