Speech #1040267233

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today in strong support of this rule. For the better part of the past decade I have been working to bring badly needed reforms to our Nations immigration laws. Unfortunately. for far too long I have felt like I was talking to myself. That is clearly no longer the case. Immigration reform is an issue on the minds of nearly all Americans. and nearly all express deep dissatisfaction with our current system and the strong desire for change. Today we are delivering that change. I truly believe that this conference report that we will be hearing shortly represents the most serious and comprehensive reform of our Nations immigration law in modern times. It also closely follows the recommendations of both the Speakers Task Force on Immigration Reform. which I chaired. and those of the Jordan Commission. Approximately 60 percent of the recommendations made by the Speakers Task Force have been included in this conference report. They include. in part. provisions to double the number of Border Patrol agents stationed at our borders to 10.000 agents. expanded preinspection at foreign airports to more easily identify and deny entry to those persons with fraudulent documents or criminal backgrounds. tough new penalties for those who use or distribute fake documents. bringing the penalty for that offense in line with the use or production of counterfeit currency. Mr. Speaker. the primary responsibilities of any sovereign nation are the protection of its borders and enforcement of its laws. For too long in the area of immigration policy. we at the Federal Government have shirked both those duties. It may have taken a long time. but policy makers in Washington are finally ready to acknowledge the devastating effects of illegal immigration on our cities and towns. Finally. I would like to congratulate my colleague. the gentleman from Texas . who chairs the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims for all the effort that he has put into this. putting his heart and soul into this legislation. I would also like to thank him for welcoming the input of myself and other members of the task force in crafting this legislation. and I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this rule and let us pass immigration reform that this Nation sorely needs.