Speech #1040192293

Chairman. I rise In support of this profamily. proimmigration amendment. The issues of legal and Illegal immigration are not. and should not. be linked to one another. It is unfortunate that the anger. trustration. and misinformation over Illegal immigration has been used to target hardworking. lawabiding. legal immigrants. Focusing our elforts on reducing illegal immigration is a responsible and proper undertaking. Slashing legal immigration. however. as H.R. 2202 does. Is like fighting crime by imprisoning the innocent. While the ChryslerBermanBrownback amendment does not eliminate all the evils contained in this bill. it does strike some of the most blatantly xenophobic and antifamily provisions of the legislation. The legislation. as you know. would reduce legal Immigration by 40 percent over 5 years. Whole categories of legal Immigration would be eliminated and excessive restrictions would be placed on the sponsors of legal immigrants. Under the bill. parents of U.S. citizens would no longer be able to migrate to the United States unless they are covered by health insurance and longterm health care policies. a requirement that is clearly beyond the means of many Americans. It is unconscionable that only the wealthy will be able to bring their parents Into this country. In addition. the bill guarantees that families of legal immigrants will forever remain divided. The unmarried adult sons and daughters of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents are all but prohibited from joining their parents. Should brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens be able to migrate to the United States and live with one another? Not according to the sponsors of the legislation. under H.R. 2202. this category of Immigration is completely eliminated. I ask the supporters of these provisions: Is America not big enough for the parents. children.and *siblings of its citizens? Mr. Chairman. though it has been said several times before. it must be said again. We are a Nation of Immigrants. Ours Is a proud. though not unblemished. history of providing hope and opportunity to people from all nations who are willing to work hard and abide by our laws. This bill turns that history on its head and does so by striking at one of our most cherished institutions--the nuclear family. Legal Immigrants have provided the United States with a rich return on its investment. Legal Immigrants and foreignborn citizens work hard and contribute to the economy well beyond the cost of services that they consume. It Is estimated that 77 percent of the foreignborn population Is gainfully employed. compared to 74 percent of nativeborn Americans. In addition. Immigrants generate $285 billion In income and pay more than $70 billion In taxes annually--25 billion more than they receive In benefits. Legal immigrants and naturalized citizens also contribute Immeasurably to the rich mixture of cultures and heritages that can only be found in the United States. I find strength and pride In this diversity. not fear and anxiety. Mr.