Speech #1030006715

I want to thank our colleague from Oklahoma for offering his amendment. His amendment is a pretty simple amendment. It simply says that existing policy concerning the prohibition on immigrants coming into this country who are infected with the AIDS virus will be a matter of statute. And if after study and deliberation the President decides to stay with his policy of changing that existing policy. he would have to offer a proposal to Congress. it would have to be debated. and it would then have to be enacted into law. What the Senator from Massachusetts proposes is that we just have a moratorium. when the President has already announced the policy. And when the period of study has passed. the President can then act unilaterally. unless we can override the President and override his veto. So. basically. the debate here is about whether or not the burden of proof ought to be on the President if he wants to lift the ban on AIDSinfected immigrants. Now. what I would like to do is look at this from the point of view of the publics interest. and I would like to begin with the immigration policy of this country. We have an immigration policythanks. in part. to the distinguished Senator from Mssachusetts. because I voted for that immigration billthat seeks to set a policy to allow legal immigration based on who can help America. In fact. on the bill cosponsored by our dear colleague from Massachusetts--a bill that is one of the most enlightened policies in terms of immigration to be adopted in the history of the countrywe decided that with 7.2 million people waiting to come to America. knowing that they cannot all come here. that what we ought to set out a policy to determine that who is coming is in the interest of the people that are already here. So we now have as the law of the land a policy that says if people have skills or education or talent that we as a Nation deem to be of great value. we give them preference in coming into the country. That is the policy under which we operate. recognizing. that until we can take the American dream to the world. they cannot all come here to find it. So. we set out with an immigration policy to improve our country and to bring people here who can work. who can contribute. and who can make us richer. freer. and happier. Now the President comes along and says. let us change that policy and let us allow immigrants to come into the country who are infected with the AIDS virus. Mr. President. the problem is that as compassionate as it may be to say. "Well. let them come in." we are looking at medical expenses of up to $100.000 per person.