Speech #1100051865

I think colleagues will. when they hear what this amendment is aboutand I apologize that. due to the legislative counsel being backed up drafting amendments. we have only recently been able to distribute the amendment text. but I think as I describe this amendment. my colleagues will share my concern with two problems that are in the underlying bill. First. this amendment would do two things: The amendment would provide technical corrections to what I can only assume are drafting oversights in the underlying bill as well as close loopholes in the current law. These technical corrections include closing loopholes that fail to permanently bar from the United States and prohibit awarding of any immigration benefits to the following categories of individuals: No. 1. persons associated with terrorist organizations. No. 2. violent gang members: No. 3. sex offenders: No. 4. alien smugglers who use firearms: and. No. 5. repeat drunk drivers. The question I put to my colleagues is whether Congress should permanently bar from the United States anld from receiving any immigration benefit the persons in the categories I have just described and others who are dangerous to our society. I sincerely hope none of my colleagues would answer this question in the negative. Let me point out a couple of examples of what I will call the technical fixes that are sorely needed.