Speech #1040204738

I comment now and finish on the comments I made earlier with respect to the implications of this verification system on the American people. We have been told as a starting point that the bill. without this pilot program. would be gutless. it would be toothless and. in various other ways. be a bill unworthy of us here. I cannot help. when we talk about exaggerated rhetoric. be a little shocked and surprised at those allegations. because I consider the bill as it currently stands. even if it did not have these pilot programs. an extraordinary piece of legislation that will combat many of the problems this country has with illegal immigration. and combat them squarely. head on. effectively. whether it is increasing the border patrols. whether it is cracking down on and ensuring the deportation of alien criminals. whether it is in partially penalizing the visa overstayers who make up such a large percentage of the illegal alien population. or whether it is sharply reducing the availability of public assistance programs to illegal aliens. All of these. I think. combined. will play a very effective role in dramatically reducing the illegal immigration problems we confront. Equally. I think. we will see that the provisions in the legislation which protect employers. particularly small employers. from charges of discrimination. in cases where no intent to discriminate exists. are going to. likewise. allow us to address the problem of individuals who are legal aliens securing employment in this country and do so.