Speech #1090122760

Rather. they are trying to point a way toward the best possible legislation that can achieve not just a majority but a supermajority of support within the current Senate. I will support the majority leaders motion for cloture on the motion to commit. That will bring the Frist amendment before the Senate. and I will continue to work for bipartisan. comprehensive. smart. tough. and fair immigration reform. I was surprised to hear the Majority Leader say last night that he was considering opposing his own motion. We should have invoked cloture yesterday on the bipartisan Committee bill. I hope that we do so today on the Frist motion on the Frist amendment. I appreciate that for those undocumented immigrants who can prove they have been in the U.S. for more than five years. the path to citizenship that we voted out of Committee would still govern. To earn status and eventual citizenship. the immigrant must undergo background checks. work. pay taxes. pay fines. and learn English. That is not an amnesty program. The Republican Leader has now reversed his position and supports those provisions. That is progress. In addition. the bill we will be considering continues to contain the Ag Jobs bill and the DREAM Act. and the amendments the Senate voted to add to the bipartisan Committee bill. including the Bingaman enforcement amendment and the Alexander citizenship amendment. Those undocumented immigrants who have been here for two to five years would. under the provisions of the new bill. have to leave the U.S. and seek approval to return and to work under a temporary status for four years. They could eventually seek legal permanent status. probably after a total of 8 to 10 years. and only after those who have "seniority" to them by being in the group that has been in the U.S. for more than five years. Thus. this new grouping of people is treated under a combination of rules drawn from a bill introduced by the senior Senator from Nebraska and the KylCornyn bill.