Speech #1090174071

We require them to learn English. and we require them to learn about American history as a realistic way of approaching the reality of 12 million human beings who live here in our country today. Let me come back and talk a little bit about the piecemeal approachthis political approach which is being talked about here in the Congress today. It is in fact a piecemeal approach because all of those who have studied this issue recognize that unless we deal with immigration issues in a comprehensive way. it will not work. Many of us in this Chamber have had many conversations with the President of the United States about the need for comprehensive immigration reform. On August 3 of this year. in a public statement. the President said: Im going to talk today about comprehensive immigration reform. I say comprehensive because unless you have all five pieces working together its not going to work at all. This is the President of the United States saying it is not going to work at all unless we do this in a comprehensive manner. In another statement. he said the following: We will fix the problems created by illegal immigration. and we deliver a system that is secure. orderly. and fair. So I support comprehensive immigration reform that will accomplish these five objectives. That was the President of our country. He said in another statement on May 15 of 2006 the following: Some in this country argue that the solution is to deport every illegal immigrant. and that any proposal short of this amounts to amnesty. I disagree. It is neither wise nor realistic to round up millions of people. many with deep roots in the United States. and send them across the border. There is a rational middle ground. That is from the Presidents Presidential address of May 15. 2006. On May 15. on that same day. he said the following: An immigration reform bill needs to be comprehensive. because all elements of this problem must be addressed together. or none of them will be solved at all. Congress can pass a comprehensive bill for me to sign into law. That is what the President of the United States has asked us as a Congress to do.