Speech #1010249428

Mr. Speaker. I would like to offer my reluctant support for the rule to the immigration conference report. In watching the progress of the immigration reform in the House I have seen a mountain turn into a molehill. The conference report we have here before us which we must either approve or disapprove is a mere shadow of Its former self. We have seen a bill which began as an ambitious attempt to expand Immigration to the benefit of America and Americans chipped away bit by bit at every stage of the legislative process. H.R. 4300 was sponsored by my good friend from Connecticut. the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Mr. MORRISON. was fought for valiantly by my colleague from California. Mr. BERMAN. and received positive input and support from a range of minority organizations and immigration advocates. That bill. as passed by the House sarlier this month. sought to reunite families. promote employment opportunities. and relieve the enormous backlogs currently being experienced by prospective immigrants from certain countries. The bill that has come out of the conference committee not only weakens the Houses will for family reunification. but has been amended to encroach upon the civil liberties of all Americans. The sudden appearance of a pilot program for national identification cards Is reason for great concern. particularly when that program that could result in the sharing of Federal data banks. Also disturbing to me is the way In which this provision was thrown into the legislation by the conference committee. It was not in the House bill. nor was it in the Senate legislation. yet somehow it found its way into the conference report. As much as I resent the establishment of a pilot program to explore the idea of national identification cards. however. I feel even stronger that we must not let this session of Congress expire without making some improvement to our immigration laws. If this proposed identification pilot program does become law. the Congress must be diligent in its oversight of the program and unrelenting in exposing it as dangerous and unjust. In the final analysis. however. there is simply too much to be lost by fumbling the opportunity to effect some positive change In the immigration laws. Make no mistake about it: the conference report before us is not the Improvement to immigration law that I had hoped the Congress would pass this year. It is an improvement. however. one which we should accept and build upon. I urge my colleagues to approve the rule as a means of striking an initial blow toward the eventual goal of meaningful immigration reform.