Speech #1000048133

That is an extraordinary figure. From what we know from those who have been exposed. those who have it. we are going to have to reassess the priorities of the United States on that issue. What I would just say and try to put it in perspective from the standpoint of immigration is that this amendment is talking about legal immigration. I want to assure my colleagues as they vote upon this. and my research leads me to believe. this will also cover the legalization aspects of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. People are coming forward between May 5. 1987. and May 5. 1988. under the Immigration Reform and Control Act. and this test will then be required of those people. I think that is very important. that it is not just required for those who are legal immigrants. those with permanent resident alien status or some other status to be in the United States legally. but by these people who we do not know anything about. And I mean nothing. People who are often rootless. We do not know from what country they came or what proclivities they pursue. That is not the issue. but that is the way it is. So I think it is important to remember that we started all of this back in 1891 when we had in the Congress the exclusion of wouldbe immigrants with what was called then loathsome or dangerous contagious diseases. That was in response to a fear of epidemics in Europe at that time. I thought we ought to be interested in where this has come from since 1891. Since 1891 our laws have always continually provided for the exclusion of immigrants who have a "loathsome or dangerous contagious disease." Somewhere the word "loathsome" was dropped. and I think just as well. and today it reads "dangerous contagious disease." We know what those diseases are. Five venereal diseases are listed. infectious leprosy. and active tuberculosis. The purpose of the law in 1891 and now is the same. to protect the public health. I do not think any of us got to the privacy concerns. the confidentiality concerns. but I think our paramount concerns must be the national public interest. Most medical experts now believe that if one had come down with the AIDS symptoms. infection with the HIV virus. humanimmunodeficiency virus. making that person contagious and able to spread the infection. surely. if that person has not entered the United States. it is in the public health interest to exclude their admission as immigrants. either under legal immigration or when we are dealing with illegal immigration. So I not only support the thrust of the amendment. but I also firmly believe that we must test the applicants for the legalization program where we think maybe 3 million people will come forward in this next year. Some 40.000 have already been approved.