Speech #1000025671

Child health efforts without this type of loan program might simply keep many children temporarily alive. Mr. President. a fourth reason for introducing this bill is the positive influence of this loan program on illegal immigration from Mexico and Central America. This flow of immigrants into the United States is a serious concern not Just to border State citizens. but to all Americans. Many of these immigrants are actually fleeing political violence or stagnant economies. these people are not necessarily coming because they want to live and work in the United States. but because living and working conditions have deteriorated in their homeland to the point of a lifethreatening situation. This bill provides a far less expensive and much more effective way of reducing illegal immigration as well as dealing with the direct causes of poverty and hunger. Providing working capitalthese small village banking loanscreates a tremendous multiplier effect. This credit permits borrowers to utilize new employment and income opportunities in their homelands. Another reason for supporting this legislation is that the small bank loans act as a counter measure to the narcotics trade. For example. in Bolivia the cocaine lords depend on a cheap supply of migrant laborers during the offseason to harvest the coca leaves. Out of economic necessity. thousands of Bolivians migrate to the tropical lowlands to earn income from this harvest. However.