Speech #1040190245

I would also like to point out the important work of my friend and fellow Californian. Mr. GALLEGLY. who chaired the Speakers task force on immigration. As a member of that task force. I know how diligently Mr. GALLEGLY and the other members worked to help develop recommendations for the subcommittee. Mr. Speaker. this bill would affect many aspects of life in the United States and a broad range of national issues and concerns. including the availability of jobs for skilled and unskilled American workers. the responsibility of businesses and corporations to obey the laws we have already enacted to prohibit the hiring of individ.uals who have entered the United States in violation of our border and our immigration laws. the serious stress that population growth fueled by immigration is creating for our country. and. most important. the kind of country we will leave to our children and grandchildren who will have to live with the consequences of our decisions in terms of how heavily populated the United States will become. Because of the significance of this bill. we commend the Committee on Rules for allowing debate on 32 amendments. More than 100 amendments were submitted to the committee and for the most part. we think. the committee did a good job of making in order amendments that cover most of the important areas of disagreement in this wideranging piece of legislation.