Speech #1010216614

Mr. Chairman. I rise today to discuss the needed reform of our Nations legal immigration policy. There was once little factual information on the effects of immigration. Instinctive popular wisdom arguments were accorded respect. But the body of research on immigration contradicts popular wisdom. It now permits us to make sound and enlightened national choices. H.R. 4300 is a bill which reforms our Nations system of legal immigration in a manner that safeguards the American worker promotes national economic interests. and is consistent with our most basic value. the unity of families. H.R. 4300 is a bill which is supported by a bipartisan. multiethnic. liberal. and conservative coalition. It strikes the delicate balance among the interests of the American worker. his labor representatives. and parties seeking to promote diversity in immigration. while also protecting the integrity of the family unit. And yet the bill allows our Nation to reap the economic prosperity. that social scientists tell us. have historically resulted from increased levels of immigration. At the turn of the century immigrants made up 2 percent of our labor force. Today they constitute 10 times less that percentage. This bill provides critically needed immigration reform to ensure that family reunification remains a cornerstone of our immigration law. The rhetoric in this Chamber on the issue of criminality is just so much bugaboo. In considering this bill I urge you to remember its important labor safeguards requiring recruitment of American workers. and its payment of prevailing wages. Remember also its provisions to strenghten the diversity of our flow of immigration. Finally. I ask you to remember its protection of the basic building block of our society. the family.