Speech #1040192264

She rejoined her family in Houston at age 23 where she has begun a new job and is attending school. Under this bill. legal residents would be prohibited from sponsoring their sons and daughters over the age of 21. The adult children could be deportable or have no preferential treatment in gaining legal residency. Claudias father. who has lived here since 1967. said: "Ive worked hard here and paid taxes. What am I going to say to my son. who is 21. and my daughter. who is 23. if they have to leave this country? I will respect every single day the laws of this country. But this one would be unjust and I denounce this law that would hurt many families." Similarly. barring entry of brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens because of the current backlog in that visa category is especially unfair to the citizens and their siblings who have followed the rules and waited patiently in linesome for 15 years or more. H.R. 2202 imposes nearly insurmountable obstacles for U.S. citizens seeking to bring their own mothers and fathers to the United States. The legislation enables the U.S. Government to control and overrule the decisions of families by requiring that U.S. citizens purchase high levels of insurance for their parents and lowers the priority for the parents visa category. This category will only receive visas if any are left over from other categories. The State Department projects that within 3 years after the law takes effect no visas will be available for parents. In addition. H.R. 2202 would require citizens and legal residents to show that their income will be 200 percent above the poverty line In order to bring their parents. minor children. or spouses to the United States. More than 35 percent of Americans--over 91 million peopiehave incomes below 200 percent of the poverty line. The bill will have a devastating Impact on American families who will be barred from living in the United States with their own husbands. wives. and children. The centerpiece of U.S. immigration policy is. and should be. family reunification. It is consistent with our Nations values when we allow U.S. citizens to reunite with their spouses. children--both minors and adultstheir parents. and their siblings. This policy is good not only for the individuals involved. but for the Nation as a whole. Our policy of family reunification brings In energetic. committed new Americans who work hard. pay their taxes. and enrich the country economically and socially. There Is little rationale for limiting opportunities for family reunification. when the end results are so positive for everyone involved. Since when is America not big enough for the parents of its citizens? A recent CNN USA Today poll shows that Immigrants come with strong family values and a strong work ethic. These are values we ought to be promoting. not undermining. Proposed restrictions In employmentbased immigration will hurt the U.S. economy. It is crucial that the American workplace reflects the international character of its customers and responds to both domestic and International competitive pressures. Achieving such a work force requires looking beyond the U.S. labor market. Employees. researchers. and professors possessing both innovative technical skills and multicultural competence ensures our economic viability in world markets. Placing a cap on the number of refugees admitted to the United States ignores the leadership role of this country in providing protection and safe harbor to those fleeing political and religious persecution. Strict levels of relugee admissions ignore the changing and urgent nature of refugee situations. U.S. policy should maintain the flexibility to respond appropriately to emergency situations. Mr. Chairman. today. and throughout history. immigrants have come to the United States in pursuit of the American dream. to make a better life for themselves and their children. They come to the United States to join the work force and their families. to educate their children and contribute to the communities where they live. their professions and the American economy. They enrich us with their diverse cultures and languages. and with their skills. education. business. and artistic talents. The United States. a nation of immigrants. has welcomed individuals from around the world who came here seeking better economic futures or fleeing political persecution. We must not abandon this history. I urge my colleagues to support their amendment.