Speech #1040192219

I rise today to express my strong support for the ChryslerBerman amendment. This amendment will repeal the antifamily. antigrowth provisions of the underlying bill. While I support H.R. 2202s attempts to control illegal immigration. I believe that the issue of legal immigration should be addressed at a later time by separate legislation. The issues of legal and illegal immigration are separate and distinct issues. and should be addressed In separate bills. As the bill is currently drafted. after a 5year transition period. H.R. 2202 cuts legal immigration by 40 percenta level unprecedented in the last 70 years. In one fell swoop. H.R. 2202 slashes family immigration by approximately onethird. In addition to arbitrarily reducing the number of family members admitted each year. the bill completely eliminates major eligibility categories. H.R. 2202 not only eliminates visa categories for adult children and siblings but would also unfairly wipe out the corresponding backlogs of visa applications. Individuals who have played by the rules. paid necessary fees. and waited patiently for as many as 15 years would be summarily rejected for legal immigration. The bill also places nearly insurmountable obstacles for parents and adult children who are attempting to legally reunite with family members. H.R. 2202s restrictive family based immigration policies undermine American families and American family values. In addition to my concerns regarding family based immigration. H.R. 2202 is an antigrowth bill. As our economy grows. the job base expands. Both the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Times editorial pages have noted that the U.S. economy benefits from legal immigration. In fact. in a recent Cato Institute study. not one economist surveyed believed that reducing legal immigration would increase economic growth. In addition. not one economist believed that reducing the level of legal immigration would increase Americans standard of living. As drafted. H.R. 2202 is an antifamily and antigrowth bill. I urge Members to support the ChryslerBermanBrownback amendment so that we can address the issues of illegal and legal immigration thoroughly and responsibly through separate pieces of legislation.