Madam Speaker. I would like to talk tonight about a subject which has gotten some attention in this country. and these days we see it perhaps grabbing more and more of the attention not just of this Congress and of legislators. but of the American people. and it is a subject which is dear to my heart and which I believe needs more clarity and more discussion. because it affects hum..n beings and it affects Americans. The subject is that of immigrants. Not immigrants who come into this country without permission. without documents to be here. not socalled illegal immigrants. but legal immigrants. those who have come in through application. waited. in some cases 10 or 15 years. to come to this country. and have now received the permission of this country to come and reside and make this their home and ultimately become U.S. citizens. These are the lawful permanent residents in this country. and we have approximately 9 million residing in this country. some who just got here and are waiting the 5 years before they can become U.S. citizens. others who have been here for decades and working and doing what most people in this country do. and that is paying their taxes and abiding by the laws and raising their families. I would like to discuss legal immigrants because it happens that in this process here in Congress of discussing reforms and in discussing the Republican contract on America. one of the proposals. a welfare reform proposal. proposes to use legal immigrants to fund the cost of this reform proposal within welfare. I think it is important not only that my colleagues have a chance to hear and understand more about legal immigrants. but quite honestly. the greater public should have a chance as well. So I would like to do a little bit here by discussing legal immigrants and perhaps do some personal discussions as well as some factual discussions and providing some data as well. Let me begin by giving a couple of examples of people who I happen to know in some cases. others that I know of and have been told about. and I think are worth sharing with you today. Mr.
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illegal immigrants immigrants