Speech #1010216531

Mr. Speaker. today we have an opportunity to consider profamily legislation. H.R. 4300the Family Unity and Employment Opportunity Immigration Actsubstantially revises our Nations laws to help unite immigrant families. The number of slots would be expanded so that children and spouses of permanent residents may join their families In this country. The wait for family reunification can be long and painful. For natives of most countries. the wait averages 3 years. For countries with long backlogs. such as Mexico. families can be separated for as long as 15 years. Not only is it antifamily to allow such long separations. it is also counterproductive. For it only encourages illegal immigration as the best way to become united with loved ones. In addition to its family unity provisions. H.R. 4300 would also help diversify our immigrant population by broadening the numbers allowed from countries who have been largely shut out in the last quarter century. Visas are specifically set aside for natives of Eastern Europe. for instance. The end of the cold war and the dramatic changes of the past year call for a revision in our existing East European immigration policies. Individuals from countries adversely affected by current lawsuch as Ireland. Italy. Poland. and Argentinawill now have the opportunity to apply for conditional residence status if they have a firm offer of employment for 1 year. The rule under which this bill will be considered also makes in order legislation to extend the time that Salvadoran and other political refugees may stay in this country. Chairman MOAKLEY has worked long and hard on this issue. and the House already adopted similar provisions last October. The continuing wars in El Salvador and Lebanon. and the plunder of Kuwait. make this vehicle timely and appropriate for reconsideration of this issue.