Speech #1100055793

I want to first speak on behalf of an amendment I offered with Senator OBAMA. It is one of the two amendments that will be voted on in the sequence at 2 oclock. The amendment is aimed at addressing what I believe is a very shortsighted provision in this draft immigration bill. My amendment applies only to this new guest worker program we are creating under the bill. the socalled Yl program. It doesnt impact the Y2 program. which is the seasonal and nonagricultural program that is based on the existing H2B3 program. or the H2A program. which is the agricultural temporary worker program. Under this immigration bill as it now stands. Y1 workersguest workers. which is how we refer to themwould be able to work in the United States for three 2year work periods. But before they could renew their visas for the second and the third of those 2year work periods. they would have to leave the country for at least a year. This is the socalled 21212 provision. Work for 2 years. leave for 1 year. work for 2 years. leave for 1 year. work for 2 years. and then leave for good. The total number of work years in the United States would be limited to 6 years. but the work pattern would be interrupted twice each time by a 1year absence requirement. The amendment I have offered. and that we will be voting on in a few minutes. simply removes the requirement these guest workers leave the country before they renew their visas. It would leave in place the term of the visa. which is 2 years. and it would not alter the 6year total work limit that is provided for in the bill. In. addition. it would modify the requirement that Y1 workers meet all of the relevant requirements under the program each time they apply to renew their visas. Over the last 2 days. I have come to the floor to discuss this provision a couple of times. I strongly believe it does not make any sense from a policy standpoint and. ultimately. we are going to be judged by how much sense this legislation makes. As I have pointed out. this provision is bad for employers:. it harms American workers. it will be difficult and costly to implement. and it will likely encourage these workers. whom we are bringing here as socalled guest workers. to overstay their visas. For these reasons. my amendment has the broad support of labor groups. such as the Service Employees International Union: business organizations. such as the National Association of Home Builders and the Associated Builders and Contractors. and immigration and religious groups. such as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. the American Association of Immigration Lawyers. and the National Immigration Forum. The coalition of organizations supporting this amendment is indicative of how harmful the 1year absence requirement would be from a variety of different perspectives. I ask unanimous consent that following my remarks. the following material be printed in the REORD: the statement that was issued by the U.S.