From the earliest days of our history. America has been a beacon of hope and opportunity to people in other lands. We are proud of our immigrant heritage. and we must do all that we can to preserve that heritage and to build upon it and to strengthen It for the future. Mr. President. I hope that with the successful conclusion of this bills reform of legal immigration. we will have responded to the recommendations of the Select Commission. which was established in 1979. and recognize that we as an institution have not addressed both the illegal and legal immigration issues for far too long. Our bill will also respond to the more immediate crisis which this country is going to face. and that is with the adjustment of status of those that have taken advantage of the amnesty provisions. to expedite the reunification of the families in the second preference. It will also respond to some of the unintended consequences of the 1965 act. where a number of countries around the world who had individuals come to this country. participate in Its development and in Its evolution. but who are now shutout.
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