Speech #1030139011

As everyone who serves in this body knows. the legislative process is an evolving process. Enacting meaningful and beneficial legislation requires the thoughtful input of all parties affected by that legislation. Since the introduction of S. 1351 I have heard from many. many groups affected by our immigration laws. The insights and experiences shared with me by immigration experts. minority communities. the INS. and other legal experts interested in reforming our immigration laws for the better were instrumental in my decision to reintroduce a new comprehensive immigration stabilization bill. Today. I am introducing an immigration bill that I believe thoughtfully addresses the concerns of all those involved in this debate. This bill recognizes the significant contributions that immigrants have historically madeand will continue to maketo our society. It is axiomatic that we are a nation of immigrants and that continued immigration. at reasonable levels. will lead to a more diverse. and consequently better. society in America. However. this bill also addresses the existingand patently evidentproblems with our current immigration policy. The heavy costs imposed on the States and the Federal Government are exorbitant and the spiraling increase in migrationbecause of the current lawonly exacerbates the problem. The facts and the numbers make the argument for change compelling. Tuesdays New York Times reported that in 1992. legal and illegal immigration cost the State of Texas more than $4 billion for education. health care and other services. The bill I am introducing today is a realistic recognition that something must be done to reduce these escalating costs to ensure that our children and grandchildren do not inherit a country in which no one would want to live. For if we do not take reasonable steps now. history may well judge us as the first generation of Americans that passed down to the next generation. a country with fewer opportunities and greater debts. There are legitimate issues in the immigration debate that must be addressed. Ultimately. however. our legislative actions must avoid embracing those extremists who would rather engage in demagoguery and the politics of fear. Yes. we must reduce the flow of immigration to the levels recommended by President John Kennedy but we must do so consistent with the admonition of then Senator John Kennedy: "We are a nation of immigrants." My bill accomplishes this. In so doing. it balances the interests of those promoting continued immigration with the realistic recognition that if we fail to take proper steps now. the real losers will be those who play by the rules as well as the future generations of Americans. We just finished debating the balanced budget amendment. The vehicle that drove this legislation was the concern for providing for a fiscally secure future for our Nation and the desire to motivate Congress to act in a responsible manner.