Speech #1040272397

Mr. President. exactly 2 years ago. the late Barbara Jordan. Chair of the Commission on Immigration Reform. submitted to Congress a comprehensive set of recommendations to address the illegal immigration crisis in America. At that time. Barbara Jordan said. "Our message is simple. The United States must have a more credible immigration policy that deters unlawful immigration while supporting our national interest in legal immigration." The bill that the Republican leadership tried to ram hastily through the Congress was weak in addressing illegal immigration and reflected the antiworker. antifamily. antiimmigrant. antirefugee. and antienvironment agenda of the Republican right wing and was an extreme Republican assault on the American worker and on working families. It did more harm to the country than good. But after extraordinary negotiation last week involving the White House. the Republican leadership. key Members of Congress. those features of the Republican bill that came out of their conference that assaulted legal immigrants and made it impossible for working Americans to reunite their families here are now gone. Gone. too. is the unacceptable Gallegly amendment which would have allowed States to expel immigrant children from public schools and dump them on the streets. This unwise amendment would do nothing to stem the tide of immigration. It was vigorously opposed by police groups and educators because of the harm it would do to our communities. Congress is right to reject this provision. Although the worst provisions in this bill on legal immigrants are gone. it is still not the hardhitting crackdown on illegal immigration it ought to be. Republicans rejected our efforts to include strong provisions to punish unscrupulous employers who hire illegal immigrant workers and then exploit them with cheap labor and unsafe workplace conditions knowing they will not protest such conditions. This bill winks at this shameful sweatshop practice. Americans will continue to lose their jobs as long as unscrupulous employers can get away with hiring and abusing illegal workers. Clearly. stronger legislation is needed if we are serious about dealing effectively with illegal immigration. And I intend to renew this battle again next year. In addition. the provisions in this bill related to refugees and due process of law represent an improvement over the recently enacted antiterrorism law. But they still do not go far enough in restoring judicial revue and giving persecuted refugees a fair opportunity to seek asylum in America. Most of the credit for what is before us today as part of this continuing resolution goes to our respected friend and colleague. Senator Al SIMPSON. We will miss his able leadership. vision and courage on the complex and challenging issues of immigration. As I have said on many different occasions. immigration is not a highprofile issue in the State of Wyoming. They are not inundated with illegal immigration. There are important historical strains of legal migration in Wyoming. but certainly it is not a State that is confronted with these types of issues. But the fact that Senator SIMPSON over a very long and distinguished career in the Senate was willing to take the time. make the effort and had the energy to master the very complex policies that are affected by immigration and refugee policies and asylum reflects great national service. He was always there to make sure that no matter where the political winds were blowing. we kept our eye on the ball on matters of immigration. illegal immigration. and refugees. He and I did not always agree. but we found common ground. and everyone on that committee always found that Senator SIMPSON was willing to listen and to find the broadest of coalitions in the best interests of our country. And again the provisions that are included in this legislation to a great extent reflect the long effort on his part to make sure that we were addressing these matters in a responsible way.