Speech #1040272710

Mr. President. I rise in strong opposition to the immigration provisions that are now included in the continuing resolution. It should come as no surprise that it took nearly 5 months after the Senate passed this bill for the House and Senate conferees to finally be appointed. It should not surprise us that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle initially drafted this conference report amongst themselves. and refused to allow a single democratic amendment to be offered during the conference committee. Some changes were made when the conference report was merged with the omnibus continuing resolution. but the basic provisions were developed in a very partisan process. And finally. it should come as no surprise that the Senate is considering this legislation in the middle of the campaign season. Rather than offering any surprises. the circumstances surrounding us is a clear confirmation that this legislation is less about combating illegal immigration than it is about trying to score political points. Let me begin by observing that there is clearly no demonstrable support in this Congress. nor in this country. for reducing levels of legal immigration. Such reductions were stripped from the House bill and omitted from the Senate bill. I have said repeatedly that there is some abuse of our legal immigration system and we should take appropriate steps to repair this process. But it is clear that a large majority of this body and the other house believes in continuing our longstanding national policy of allowing families to reunite. of continuing to allow foreign skilled workers to be sponsored by businesses. universities and research facilities. and ensuring that the United States continues to be a safe haven for those fleeing persecution from around the world. Mr. President. for anyone who has witnessed the evolution of this legislation. from its inception last spring to the conference report language included in the continuing resolution that is before us today. it is obvious that the commitment of those of us opposing this conference report to combating illegal immigration is just as strong as those who are supporting this legislation. As virtually every expert on this issue agrees. combating illegal immigration must be a twopronged strategy. The first part of that strategy is border enforcement. particularly along the southwestern border where tens of thousands of illegal immigrants cross into the United States each year. I have supported President Clintons increases in the U.S. border patrol and I support the further increases contained in this legislation. But a comprehensive strategy must also account for those illegal immigrants who enter the United States legally. usually on a student or a tourist visa. and then remain here unlawfully. This. we know. represents up to onehalf--onehalf Mr. Presidentof our illegal immigration problem. So how do you address this problem. known as the visa overstayer problem. Some of my colleagues advocate installing a worker verification system. where employers would have to verify the eligibility status of each worker they hire with the Federal Government. I have long opposed this approach for a variety of reasons.