Speech #1090122348

Mr. President. today the Senate has a historic opportunity with this cloture vote to move forward with tough. smart. and comprehensive immigration reform that secures our Nations borders or to maintain the status quo of failed laws and a broken immigration system that is weak on enforcement and leaves our borders and our citizens unsecured. A vote for invoking cloture is a vote for an increase of 1.250 Customs and Border Protection officers. 2.500 portofentry inspectors. 1.000 personnel dedicated to the investigation of alien smuggling. 25.000 investigators. 12.000 new Border Patrol agents. 10.000 worksite enforcement agents. 5.000 fraud detection agents. and the acquisition of 20 new detention facilities to accommodate at least 10.000 detainees to ensure that we have tightened our border security and workplace enforcement. A vote for invoking cloture is a vote to create an equal playing field and ensure that American workers wages. benefits and health and safety standards are not undercut. A vote for invoking cloture is also a vote to realize the economic realities in our society in which undocumented workers are bending their backs every day. picking the fruits and vegetables that end up on our kitchen tables. digging the ditches that lay the infrastructure for the future. cleaning the hotel and motel rooms for our travelers. plucking the chicken or deboning the meat that we had for dinner last night. and helping the aged. the sick and disabled meet their daily needs. This vote ensures that they are brought out of the darkness and into the light of Americas promise. A vote for invoking cloture is a vote to create the possibility for those who contribute to our country a pathway to earn legalizationbut only after they pay thousands of dollars in fines and fees. pass a criminal background check. go to the back of the line behind all applicants waiting for green cards. pay any and all back taxes. remain continuously employed going forward. pass a medical exam. and learn English and U.S. History and Government. A vote for cloture gives us greater security. But unlike the House bill. it doesnt criminalize innocent U.S. citizensthose. for example. like Catholic Charitieswho give advice to immigrants. like those who give help to a rape victim or a battered woman. That is why I urge our colleagues to vote to invoke cloture on the Judiciary Committee bill.