Speech #1010042620

President. let me give another summary of what the HelmsShelby amendment does and what it does not do. I want to underline and emphasize as greatly as I can. that it is time to do something for America. First. we need a legal immigration policy that serves America and encourage skilled people to come to our country. If you want to do something for America. you should vote for the HelmsShelby amendment. The HelmsShelby amendment increases business visas by the 37.200 without increasing the cap. The skilledbased visas now account for only 10 percent of all visas. I am sure every Senator is hearing pleas for more skillbased immigrants from business and industry in his or her State. Second. the HelmsShelby amendment gives points for English language ability in the point system. Third. the HelmsShelby amendment does notdoes notreduce the number of fifth preference visas during the first 3 years. After the third year. the number is reduced by 20.000. but this will leave almost 45.000. which is twice as much as provided In last years KennedySimpson bill. Furthermore. the Senate voted in 1982 to eliminate this fifth preference completely. In 1988. last year. the Senate voted by 88 to 4 to limit the number of fifth preference visas to 22.000. The HelmsShelby amendment now pending is more generous than both of those bills. So as Senator SIMPSON said. there is nothing mean spirited about the American people. and there is nothing mean spirited about efforts to try to come up with immigration legislation that will be beneficial to America. I close as I began. Lyndon Johnson was exactly right when he said that our immigration policy should be based on what is best for America. I submit. Mr.