And if we are going to enhance the opportunity for U.S. workers to produce more. we have to do it through exports. As we look at the past several years. the overwhelming majority of economic growth which has taken place in this country has been through exports. So I am concerned about creating jobs in the United States of America. and I am also concerned about an issue which is very near and dear to me as a Californian. and that is. the flight of illegal immigrants coming across the border from Mexico into the United States. That clearly is one of the most pressing problems that we have in California. because due to the fact that we here in Washington impose unfunded Federal mandates on State and local Governments. we basically tell them what they have to do. without providing the resources for them. so Californians are shouldering the cost of providing welfare. health care. criminal justice. education. and a wide range of other services for people who have entered this country illegally. And it is costing people in my State of California literally billions of dollars. These concerns have played a key role in leading me to believe that implementation of the North American FreeTrade Agreement will get to the root of these problems. I supported strongly the amendment offered by my colleagues. the gentleman from California . and the gentleman from California . and others last week to increase the border patrol. I think that we should strengthen our border patrol so that people do not come across illegally. But. clearly. people will find a way to penetrate that border. What we need to do. in getting to the root of that problem. is do everything that we possibly can to ensure that they have an incentive to stay at home.
Keywords matched
illegal immigrants border patrol