Speech #1030124724

I am pleased to cosponsor the amendment being offered by Senators KASSEBAUM and SIMPSON. Even though a similar amendment was adopted by the Senate in November. I think we should take every opportunity to reiterate the critical need for swift reform of U.S. immigration. refugee and asylum laws. I applaud Senators KASSEBAUM and SIMPSON for calling attention to the welldocumented abuses that exist in the area of asylum claims. Senator SIMPSON has introduced legislation to try to correct some of the shortcomings in this area. including S. 667 which he introduced last March and which I cosponsored. But I particularly want to congratulate Senator KASSEBAUM for including a call for broad reform of all of areasall areasof immigration policy. Dramatic changes around the world have forced us to rethink many areas of public policy. The demise of the Soviet Union has led to a complete overhaul of the U.S. defense establishment and a retooling of our foreign policy.