Speech #1040190408

Mr. Chairman. as an original cosponsor of H.R. 2202. the Immigration in the National Interest Act. this Member rises in the strongest possible support of this important legislative proposal. Mr. Chairman. the current U.S. immigration system Is urgently in need of reform. It is inconsistent with the needs and capabilities of American society. and the citizens of this country know it firsthand. For the last 20 years. countless surveys taken on immigration reform have shown that the vast majority of Americans have consistently supported efforts to reform this countrys antiquated immigration laws95 percent of those who responded to a recent questionnaire sent to this Members constituency agreed that border officials should be given more resources to crack down on illegal immigration. While this Member fully realizes the contributions of legal immigration on this State and the Nation. he also agrees with the American people that serious immigration reform is needed. An immigration system thai burdens public assistance programs and that allows illegal workers to enter the American job market is a system that cannot be supported by the American taxpayer or the American worker. Furthermore. Mr. Speaker. an immigration system with an official backlog of well over 1 million individuals seeking to legally gain citizenship in this country is a system that keeps families apart for undue lengths of time and encourages illegal immigration. On the issue of refugee admissions. Mr. Chairman. this Member urges his colleagues not to be fooled by the alarmist rhetoric surrounding this debate.The refugee admissions provision of this act is consistent with the recommendations of the bipartisan U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform. chaired by the late distinguished Member from Texas. Ms. Barbara Jordan. Moreover. contrary to what some people contend. the refugee levels in the bill are totally consistent with projected refugee levels. The Immigration in the National Interest Act sets refugee admissions at a target level of 75.000 for 1997 and 50.000 per year thereafter. What H.R. 2202 does. Mr. Chairman. is very simply to restore the Congressional prerogative in establishing American refugee policy. including In the area of annual admission numbers. While the bill precludes unilateral increases by the executive branch in determining refugees admissions. it nevertheless gives the President sufficient flexibility to meet humanitarian emergencies by admitting additional refugees. The legislation underscores an important principle contained in the recommendations of the Immigration Commission: That Is. that the United States cannot abandon its commitment to resettle refugees as a key element of the international system to protect the persecuted. H.R. 2202 honors that commitment. Mr. Chairman. in a compassionate and balanced manner. This Member urges his colleagues to oppose any effort to diminish the legislative role in setting refugee admissions policy and to retain the refugee provisions in the bill. The Immigration in the National Interest Act will ensure that refugee admissions will be maintained at reasonable levels and that Congress will maintain its role in the admissions process. This Member would like to offer the most enthusiastic commendations to the chairman of the subcommittee on Immigration and Claims. the distinguished gentleman from Texas . for his steadfast efforts to bring comprehensive immigration reform legislation before the House and to see it enacted. Mr. Chairman. H.R. 2202 would take appropriate steps toward reforming U.S. immigration laws so that they reflect the interests and common sense of the American people.