Speech #1010042860

President. I cannot cast my vote in favor of this legislation. I have grave reservations about the implications this revamping of legal immigration policy will have on individuals seeking U.S. citizenship. In particular. Mr. President. I believe that the family related immigration provisions could have profoundly negative effects. Because of the overall limit on national immigration and the offset provision. individuals seeking to emigrate to the United States based on their family connections will effectively compete against each other. As my colleagues are aware. the General Accounting Office assessment of the KennedySimpson bill. prior to the compromise. indicated that family preference immigration would dramatically fall in the next decade. GAO projected that family preference immigration could fall to zero by 1998 under the proposals set forth in the bill. While I understand that the independent commission established in this bill will recommend changes every 3 years. the GAO analysis indicates that family preference immigration will begin to decline almost immediately. Mr. President. I simply cannot support such a drop in family preference immigration. While I agree with the goals of the billto give high priority to immediate family immigrationwe must ensure that family preference immigration under the current first. second. fourth. and fifth preference will continue to be a vital part of our legal immigration. As my colleagues have noted. we are a Nation of immigrants. Immigrants from different areas of the world built this countryand they have continued to contribute to and revitalize this Nation throughout our history. Family unification has traditionally been a critical part of the flow of those seeking U.S. citizenship. Mr. President. I am especially concerned about the fifth preference. which allows adult brothers and sisters to be reunited with U.S. citizens. During Judiciary Committee consideration of the immigration bill. I wrote to the distinguished Senators on the Immigration Subcommittee to indicate my strong support for retaining and improving access to visas available under the fifth preference. I especially appreciate the consideration of the chairman of the subcommittee. Senator KENNEDY. who patiently heard my concerns and heeded them when working out this compromise.