Speech #1090139024

Mr. President. when Oscar Handlin. the eminent historian at Harvard. won the Pulitzer Prize in 1952 for his history of immigration "The Uprooted." he said he had set out to write a history of immigrants in America. but "discovered that the immigrants were America." With passage of this legislation. we reclaim that America. We lift once again the lamp beside the golden door. This is the most farreaching immigration reform in our history. It is a comprehensive and realistic attempt to solve the realworld problems that have festered for too long in our broken immigration system. It strengthens our security and reflects our humanity. It is intended to keep out those who would harm us and welcome those who contribute to our country. It has the potential to build a stronger. better. fairer America for the 21st century. It protects our security through stricter enforcement. tamperproof immigration cards. and hightech border controls. It protects American jobs and wages by bringing immigrants out of the shadows and requiring employers to pay fair American wages. And it enables decent men and women who work hard and play by the rules to earn the privilege of American citizenship. That has been Americas story. And its a story we must live anew with each new generation if we hope to continue as a vibrant land of liberty. progress and opportunitya land of people who want to do better. who love their families. embrace our Nation. and are proud to be American citizens. Wisdom in immigration policy doesnt just happen. It is a choice between a future of progress as a nation of immigrants or a future defined by high walls and long fences. Clearly. we still have much to do before this legislation becomes the new law of the land. Some believe that enforcement is the only path to take. I would urge them to remember that from the beginning to the present day. immigrants helped build our country. and made us strong. They worked in our factories and toiled in our fields. and we are stronger for it. They built the railroads that took America to the West. Even today. it is said that under every railroad tie. an Irishman is buried. Immigrants have loved America and fought under our flag. and we are stronger for it. And if we enact this bipartisan comprehensive reform. we will be stronger for it too. As we close this debate.