Speech #1090111241

Speaker. this past weekend. under the leadership of our colleagues JiM KOLBE and JOHN CORNYN. a bipartisan. bicameral delegation attended the 45th meeting of the U.S.-Mexico InterParliamentary group that was held in Mexico. The House Members. on Saturday. then went to the MexicoArizona border. We had the opportunity there to meet with local law enforcement officials and hospital administrators to discuss the tremendous strain that illegal immigration imposes on resources and law and order in our communities. As an advocate of greater security at our borders. I have long supported addressing the root cause of illegal immigration. and that is a lack of economic opportunity that exists at home for the people in Mexico. We know that the majority of illegal immigrants come to this country for one very simple reason. They are seeking economic opportunity. They want to better their lives. They want to feed their families. Economic growth. job creation. and higher wages in Mexico are special components to a longterm solution to the very serious problem of illegal immigration. By pursuing an open trade agenda that expands economic engagement in this hemisphere. we are not only shoring up our regionally based economy. and creating new opportunities for the United States workers. we are benefiting workers. the business owners and investors as well. Mr. Speaker. we are hoping to drive the economic growth necessary to reduce the number of illegal immigrants who are trying to make that dangerous trek across the border. doing so simply because of the fact that they are wanting. as I said. to feed their families. It was therefore with great interest that I read a recent Business Week article describing the emergence of a growing middle class in our neighbor to the south. The success of the North American Free Trade Agreement can be seen in the greater economic stability outlined in this Business Week piece.