I rise in strong opposition to this illconceived and harmful legislation. H.R. 4437. Our immigration laws are in need of a complete overhaul. There are bipartisan proposals on the table. but the majority is not interested in solutions. It is interested in finding its next wedge issue for this 2006 campaign season. Our Nation will suffer as a result. For the past 20 years we have taken a gettough enforcementonly approach to this immigration problem. and the result has been the situation we find ourselves in today. Those of us who represent border districts live on the front lines on the immigration issue. Let me give you a view from where we live. Our schools. hospitals. law enforcement. and social services are being stretched to the limit. At the same time. we have experienced a surge in economic activity and growth. My area has one of the fastest rates of job growth in the Nation. 0l 1815 Immigration is both a challenge and an engine for growth. We need laws that are up to the challenge. For a perspective from the front lines. listen to the words of John McClung. the president of the Texas Produce Association: "Attempting to solve our border problems by passing draconian enforcement legislation. absent a credible guest worker program. would be enormously destructive to the economy. unfair to employers. ruinous to our relations with Mexico. and. yes. that really does matter." Mr.
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