Speech #1010173351

We must not stop our journey or reverse our course after today. We must face our responsibilities and admit our mistakes to all the citizens and workers of this country. We must work together to repeal employer sanctions and put the duty of enforcing our Nations immigration laws where it belongs: With the Federal Government. If a majority of our colleagues or the President do not yet agree with ts. we must not give up. We must be committed to ensuring that all Americans. regardless of the color of their skin or the accent in their voice. are guaranteed the basic right to seek and hold a job. We can do no less. We must be committed to repealing employer sanctions. Based on the GAOs findings. we know that sanctions against employers are not the answer to the underlying problem of illegal immigration. How can a policy that has had the effect of legitimizing discrimination against American citizens and legal permanent residents be considered a viable option any longer? A more appropriate focus. I believe. Is to strengthen existing laws designed to protect workers. Many of these laws can effectively reduce illegal immigration without creating discrimination. This legislation has that focus: By increasing the number of fulltime positions in the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor. we will help ensure that violations of labor lawsincluding minimum wage. excessive overtime. and health and safety violationsare investigated and corrected. By increasing the number of assistant U.S. attorneys. we will help ensure that individuals who smuggle and harbor illegal aliens for profit are prosecuted. And by increasing penalties against these individuals. we will help ensure that they are properly punished. By increasing funding levels for tile U.S. Border Patrol. we can increase the number of border patrol agents. and we can enhance their inservice training programs to help prevent potential civil and human rights abuses. In other words. we can help ensure that increased border enforcement is humane border enforcement. Most important. by repealing employer sanctions. we will help put an end to employment discrimination based on the color of ones skin. Mr.