Speech #990278944

I yield myself 6 minutes. Mr. Speaker. at this time last week I stated that it was "almost a miracle" that the House was ready to proceed with the consideration of immigration reform legislation. This occurred after reaching a bipartisan agreement on the socalled Schumer agricultural compromise. I wish to now state that indeed a miracle has occurred. as we now are considering a conference report on immigration reform legislation. This is indeed historic legislation. It is the first comprehensive revision of our immigration laws in 34 years and it is something the Judiciary Committee has been considering since 1971. The conference report before us contains the fundamental twin components of immigration reformthat is. employer sanctions and legalization. Those interlinked components have been in every Judiciary Committee bill since 1975 and any bill that does not contain both of these elements cannot be called immigration reform. In my judgment. employer sanctions are essential if this country is to regain control of its borders. Indeed. it is our sovereign responsibility to do so.