Speech #1100143284

But we in the Senate needed to add in a number of special interest provisions that have nothing to do with consumer product safety. We even discovered last night. as the bill was put into a managers amendment. they had added some new things that apply to one State and things that have nothing to dono germanenesswith consumer product safety that we have to deal with. Certainly. that is what we ran into on the immigration issue. So much was added to the bill. it was like trying to swallow an apple when that apple needs to be eaten with a number of different bites. That is what we are trying to do with this series of immigration bills which recognize that in order to have a real solution to the immigration problem in the country. we need to build a platform for reform one plank at a time. Even those who were pushing the comprehensive bill now realize we need to begin with border control and enforcement. the type of enforcement internally that the Senator from North Carolina was talking about: a worker verification program so employers know who is legal and who is not. If we build this system that way. in a way the American people can trust. we can get to the point where America will trust us to develop new immigration policies. how to deal with those who are already here. and how to accept immigrants in the future who are needed for our economy. But the very first step. as all of us have recognized. is to have border control. This body has passed several times legislation that would build a 700mile fence along the border that would support our Border Patrol in stopping illegal immigrants. It is not just an issue of illegal immigrants themselves. it also Involves drug trafficking. it involves human trafficking. and it also involves security from terrorists who might be smuggling weapons into this country. It is essential that we control our borders. In 2006.