Speech #1090122920

I turn now to a subject we have been involved in all this week. the subject of immigration. I am very pleased that Leader FRIST and Chairman SPECTER have chosen to utilize the product of the good work of Senator HAGEL for a number of years. for over 5 years. on this issue of immigration. an effort which I was glad to join in over the last couple of weeks and which now appears to be poised to be the basis of a sensible and reasonable compromise. I am pleased that this will be the vehicle which will be on the Senate floor when we return to this topic sometime in the next month. I am grateful to Senator MCCAhL and Senator KENNEDY for their leadership on this Issue. for all the work they have done. Others who have worked with us on thisSenators BROWNBACK. GRAHAM. SALAZAR. and LIEBERMANhave all been a huge help as we tried to put together a way in which we can deal better with this complicated and very much broken down system of immigration. We approach this issue by securing the borders. by dealing with a guest worker program. and by recognizing that the 1 million people who are in this country living under the radar. In the shadows. need a way out. need a way for us to welcome them into the mainstream of American life where they have now been. many of them. living for years and years. contributing. working. making a difference.