Speech #1040190240

RIGGS. Mr. GALLEGLY. and others. have worked for years to address illegal immigration in the comprehensive manner of H.R. 2202. Just as California suffers from more illegal immigration than any State. California is home to more legal immigrants and refugees than any other State. Those immigrants have brought tremendous benefits to our State. I am proud of the fact that H.R. 2202 will allow us to maintain one of the highest levels of legal immigration in 70 years. That in itself is a good and positive move. because this country was founded on legal immigration. Legal immigrants continue to provide the United States with a steady stream of hardworking. freedomloving. patriotic new Americans. Legal immigrants bringing special skills to our workplace have been instrumental in placing American firms. especially many in California. on the cutting edge of high technology. Mr. Speaker. as we look at the broad range of amendments that will be brought forward this week. we will first debate issues relating to illegal immigration. Then after addressing that issue. the House will address the different but related issue of legal immigration. We will clearly have an opportunity to debate nearly all controversial issues. The gentleman from California . the chairman of the Speakers task force on illegal immigration. will offer amendments to create a mandatory but clearly nonintrusive Social Security number verification program to reduce the employment lure for illegal immigration. He will also offer a very sensible amendment to clarify that States have the right to determine if local and State tax dollars will be used to give free education to illegal immigrants. Mr. Speaker. the gentleman from Washington and the gentlewoman from California will offer a commonsense amendment to clarify that if someone violates American laws and enters the country illegally. then they will no longer be eligible to later become a legal immigrant. Legal immigration should be reserved for those who respect our laws. Mr. Speaker. finally we are certain to have lively debates regarding the creation of a tamper resistant Social Security card as well as an effort to eliminate the bills voluntary system to verify the accuracy of Social Security numbers. The House bill will also be able to debate the legal immigration provisions of the bill. Mr. Speaker. make no mistake. this bill establishes a very generous level of immigration by historical standards. however. it focuses legal immigration policy on reunifying nuclear families so that spouses and young children are reunited in strong families. This is a good and very important thing. Nevertheless. there is disagreement on these provisions and the House will decide this question.