I have enormous admiration for the job they have done. and would like to make that plain prior to the beginning of this debate. Mr. Speaker. my opposition to this conference report is rooted in the simple fact that today in the United States of America we admit 530.000 legal immigrants into this country every year. more than all the other nations of the world combined admit to their countries. at a time in which we are unable to meet the basic needs of our own citizens and unable to even pay the bills of our country. Today a bill is on the floor that would increase by onethird the number of legal immigrants that will be able to enter this country on an annual basis beginning next year. and the figure would not include those that enter the country as refugees or legal aliens. Mr. Speaker. American immigration law should be based upon a desire for pursuing the timehonored American tradition of encouraging family unity. as well as the admission of refugees into this country. as well as the willingness to assist persons fleeing from persecution who are in need of asylum. There is another legitimate purpose of immigration law. and that is to pursue any policy that pursues our national interest. But the bill before us today does not meet that criteria. The bill goes far beyond these purposes.
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immigration immigrants refugees