Speech #1010216554

Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 4300. The United States of America was built on immigrants. From the English Pilgrims to the Irish and Italians at the turn of the century to the Asian and Hispanics of recent times. this country thrives on the new blood and vitality brought by immigrants. Mr. Chairman. I believe that H.R. 4300 continues Americas longstanding commitment to immigration. H.R. 4300 enhances the unification of families who have been separated by their own unfortunate circumstances and by our immigration laws. It retains family unification as the cornerstone of American immigration law and policy. H.R. 4300 also addresses Americas needs in a global economy. At a time when the United States needs highly skilled workersscientists. engineers. computer experts. and other professionalsH.R. 4300 responds to that need. By increasing the number of employmentbased visas. H.R. 4300 allows business to import the necessary skills to help it remain competitive in the international economy. H.R. 4300 rights some of the wrongs caused by past and current immigration laws. It creates opportunities to immigrate to natives of countries who are virtually shut out of the immigration system. The diversity and transition programs of H.R. 4300 will allow the Irish. Africans. Eastern Europeans. Tibetans. Western Europeans. and others to find their way back into the immigration flow which they had been excluded from for 25 years or more. H.R. 4300 includes these currently disadvantaged without affecting the immigration opportunities of the Asians and Hispanics who. until recent times. were themselves excluded from immigration to the United States. I do not believe that immigrants are a burden to the United States. Instead. I believe that immigrants are what makes America great. Everyone knows a recent immigrant who owns the corner store or whose child has graduated first in his or her class. Among whom America counts among its immigrants are scientists and songwriters. athletes and artists. politicians and physicists. Mr. Chairman. the Senate three times has passed a legal immigration bill. Now is the time for the House to act. go to conference and achieve an updated law this Congress. I have two amendments which I urge my colleagues to support. The first. offered on behalf of the State Department. extends the Visa Waiver Program which allows shortterm visitors from certain countries to enter the United States without a visa. My second amendment extends the deadline of stage 2 of the legalization program from 1 year to 2 years. to achieve the goals of the 1986 Immigrant Reform and Control Act. H.R. 4300 assures us that our great tradition of immigration will continue and grow. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4300.