David Dreier

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the very kind remarks from my friend from Los Angeles. Mr. Speaker, I am stating the facts as to what this administration has done. The President stood here in his State of the Union message and said he is what my friend, the gentleman from California [Mr. Beilenson] just said, the first President to stand up and deal with this issue. The fact of the matter is when he has had opportunities to deal with it he has not. Yes, the legislative branch in a bipartisan way is recognizing the importance of this, and this rule allows us to bring forward bipartisan amendments and amendments the Democrats offer. We will have 32 amendments that will be considered. Now it is my hope that we will be able to pass this quickly over the next couple of days, get an agreement with the Senate on this and get it to the President, so he can sign this legislation and so that he will be able to be exactly what my friend, the gentleman from California [Mr. Beilenson], claims that he is. Unfortunately he has not been that up to this point, but we are going to give him a chance to do it. Pass this rule, pass this very important legislation, so that we can turn the corner on these very important problems that we face. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the rule on H.R. 2202, the Immigration in the National Interest Act. Before the House begins debate on the immigration reform measure before us today, I wanted to set the stage for this debate and to put H.R. 2202 into a proper perspective. For many years the American people have expressed frustration that its leaders in Congress have failed to enact tough policies which would eliminate the high levels of illegal entry into our country. After the highly controversial amnesty of 1986 and today's feeling of deja vu all over again, the American people are demanding action. Sensing this national frustration and recognizing that one of the most critical challenges facing the 104th Congress was the passage of comprehensive and effective immigration reform legislation, Speaker Gingrich last year appointed me chairman of a Congressional Task Force on Immigration Reform. This 54-member, bipartisan task force was asked by the Speaker to review existing laws and practices to determine the extent of needed reform and to provide a report with recommendations to him by June 1995. To expedite our work, the task force was organized into 6 working groups focusing on the most crucial areas of immigration policy--border enforcement, workplace enforcement, public benefits, political asylum, deportation, and visa overstays. I want to again thank the chairs of those groups, Representatives Royce, Deal, Goss, McCollum, Condit, and Goodlatte for all their hard work. In order to obtain a first-hand understanding of the problem, the task force reviewed the record of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, received testimony and reports from a wide range of individuals and organizations and conducted 3 fact-finding missions to San Diego, New York, and Miami. With an estimated 4 million persons illegally crossing the border each year the issues of border enforcement and enhancement, political asylum, and refugees were explored at these major ports of entry. The insights we gained during these trips were critical to our efforts to find effective solutions to the problem of illegal immigration. I would like to thank all of the members who accompanied me on those visits. Once the investigating and fact finding concluded the task force set out to produce a comprehensive and results oriented report. On June 29, the task force presented to the Speaker its findings and recommendations. Our Task Force concluded that the 1986 IRCA law had failed to deter illegal immigration; that the Federal Government did not provide the necessary resources to combat the problem; and that the incentives which bring people here illegally--employment, social welfare benefits, and free education--had to be seriously addressed or our success at ending this problem would be minimal. Our Task Force made 100 separate recommendations ranging from ways to enhance and enforce existing policies such as additional border patrol agents and new barriers, to proposing enactment of new, but forceful laws regarding criminal incarceration and verification. Mr. Chairman, we all know task forces come and task forces go and little is ever accomplished. We knew that our work to produce the report was just the beginning and that we had to translate our efforts into meaningful legislation. Working closely with Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Lamar Smith, who deserves so much praise for his efforts, the task force was successful in including over 25 of our recommendations in H.R. 2202 when it was first introduced. By the time H.R. 2202 emerged from the subcommittee and full Judiciary Committee markups, over 80 percent of our recommendations were incorporated into what I consider a forceful bill. In conclusion my colleagues, America is often described as a land of immigrants. But it is also true that certain areas of this Nation have become a land of illegal immigrants. Despite the amnesty of 1986, it is estimated that between 4 and 6 million persons are in this country illegally with that number growing by 300,000 each year. America is also referred to as the ``land of opportunity.'' Again, that is true. But America is not the land of unlimited resources. The impact of illegal immigration is profound: It severely affects our Federal budget as well as those of our State and local governments. It contributes to high crime rates and is often linked to criminal activities such as narcotics trafficking. It displaces American workers. And most of all, it is in itself against the law. My colleagues, the legislation before you today is the product of a very intense and comprehensive review of our current immigration crisis. And believe me, we are in a crisis. The provisions of H.R. 2202 provide the legislative reforms and enforcement procedures necessary to accomplish our two principle objectives--discouraging and preventing illegal entry, and identifying, apprehending, and removing illegals already here. I am proud of the work of the task force which I chaired which has become such an integral part of H.R. 2202. I urge all Members to support this bill--it is legislation which is absolutely needed. Mr. Chairman, I include for the Record an Executive Summary of the Congressional Task Force on Immigration Reform. Members of the Congressional Task Force on Immigration Reform Chairman: Elton Gallegly (R-CA). Matt Salmon (R-AZ). Bob Stump (R-AZ). Duke Cunningham (R-CA). Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA). Bill Baker (R-CA). Brian Bilbray (R-CA). John Doolittle (R-CA). Jane Harman (D-CA). Stephen Horn (R-CA). Jay Kim (R-CA). Carlos Moorhead (R-CA). George Radanovich (R-CA). Andrea Seastrand (R-CA). Porter Goss (R-FL). Charles Canady (R-FL). Cliff Stearns (R-FL). Nathan Deal (R-GA). Michael Flanagan (R-IL). Dan Burton (R-IN). Billy Tauzin (D-LA). Barbara Vucanovich (R-NV). Bill Martini (R-NJ). Jim Saxton (R-NJ). Charles Taylor (R-NC). John Duncan (R-TN). Bill Archer (R-TX). Bob Goodlatte (R-VA). John Shadegg (R-AZ). Tony Beilenson (D-CA). Gary Condit (D-CA). Ed Royce (R-CA). Howard Berman (D-CA). Ken Calvert (R-CA). David Dreier (R-CA). Wally Herger (R-CA). Duncan Hunter (R-CA). Buck McKeon (R-CA). Ron Packard (R-CA). Frank Riggs (R-CA). Christopher Shays (R-CT). Karen Thurman (D-FL). Bill McCollum (R-FL). Mark Foley (R-FL). Dennis Hastert (R-IL). Thomas Ewing (R-IL). Jan Meyers (R-KS). Bill Emerson (R-MO). Joe Skeen (R-NM). Marge Roukema (R-NJ). Susan Molinari (R-NY). Frank Cremeans (R-OH). Ed Bryant (R-TN). Pete Geren (D-TX). task force mission and organization The Congressional Task Force on Immigration Reform was created by Speaker Newt Gingrich at the beginning of the 104th session of Congress. It has become apparent to many Americans that the federal government has failed in its efforts to enforce existing laws, to enact new laws or adopt effective policies to prevent illegal immigration. Speaker Gingrich created the Task Force to find solutions to the on-going crisis of illegal immigration. Specifically, the Speaker charged the Task Force with stopping all illegal immigration at the border and finding the means to remove illegal aliens who are already in the United States. Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-CA) was named Chairman of the Task Force, which is comprised of fifty four Members of Congress, both Republicans and Democrats. The Task Force was asked to provide a report to the Speaker and relevant congressional committees by June 30, 1995. Chairman Gallegly was asked by the Speaker to develop recommendations to end illegal entry and to encourage those residing in our country illegally to return to their homeland. In preparing this report, the Task Force on Immigration Reform reviewed existing laws; committee reports; testimony before Committees of Congress; and various existing reports prepared by a wide-range of organizations and individuals. To enhance the expertise of the panel and obtain a first-hand view of the problem, the Task Force conducted fact-finding missions to San Diego, California; New York, New York; and Miami, Florida. The Task Force was organized into six working groups to focus on the most crucial areas of immigration policy that need to be reformed: Border Enforcement, Chaired by Congressman Royce (R-CA); Workplace Enforcement, Chaired by Congressman Deal (R-GA); Public Benefits, Chaired by Congressman Goss (R-FL); Political Asylum, Chaired by Congressman McCollum (R-FL); Deportation, Chaired by Congressman Condit (D-CA); and Visa Overstays, Chaired by Congressman Goodlatte (R-VA). These working groups made specific recommendations to the entire Task Force. This report represents the findings and recommendations agreed to by the members of the Immigration Reform Task Force, as requested by the Speaker. Members who were not in agreement with recommendation of the Task Force were invited to present dissenting views. They are included in Appendix II of this report. The recommendations contained within this report are to serve as the basis for administrative and legislative reform of immigration policy during the 104th Congress. executive summary Background America is often described as a ``land of immigrants''. That is true, but it is also true that certain areas of the United States have become a land of illegal immigrants. The Immigration and Naturalization Service estimates there are over four million illegal aliens in the United States and the number is growing by 300,000 to 400,000 per year. These figures indicate a failure of the federal government to honor its constitutional obligation to secure the nation's borders. Only the federal government can pass, implement, and enforce immigration laws. America is also often described as a ``land of opportunity.'' While that is also true, our nation is not a nation of unlimited resources. The impact of illegal immigration is profound: it severely affects certain local, state and federal budgets; it increases the crime rate and threat to public safety; it displaces American workers; and it is linked to narcotics trafficking. But most of all, illegal immigration is in itself against the law. This report discusses the various impacts of illegal immigration at federal, state and local levels. The Task Force finds that the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), the last major attempt by Congress to deal with illegal immigration, has failed. Provisions to deter illegal entry and to identify, apprehend and deport individuals residing in the nation illegally have failed in large measure due to the lack of resources provided to INS to do its job and to do it well. Recommendations The recommendations of the Task Force provide the legislative reforms and enforcement procedures necessary to accomplish the two principal objectives identified by the Speaker--to prevent illegal entry and to identify, apprehend and remove illegal aliens already in this country. The Congressional Task Force on Immigration Reform is confident that if the recommendations set forth in this Report are implemented, the federal government can accomplish both of these goals and put an end to illegal immigration. Preventing and Deterring Illegal Entry Restoring credibility to our immigration policy must start with preventing illegal entry into the United States: Tightening security at the border and imposing severe consequences on those who attempt to illegally enter the country. Lax law enforcement efforts have had grave public safety, economic and social consequences on the U.S. side of the border while causing death and misery to illegal aliens attempting to cross into the United States. The key recommendations by the Task Force to improve security at and between ports of entry include: Merge Customs enforcement with INS enforcement at ports of entry to overcome management deficiencies and streamline operations. Double the number of border patrol agents stationed at the border to 10,000 in three years. Form a mobile border patrol response team so that INS is prepared and can respond to emergency situations. Construct triple barrier fences and lighting at appropriate urban areas on the border to assistance law enforcement. Expand pre-inspection in foreign airports to more easily deny entry to persons with fraudulent documents or criminal backgrounds. In order to effectively deter illegal immigration, laws must be strengthened and enforced so there are consequences for individuals who attempt to enter the country illegally. The Task Force offers the following main recommendations in this area: Impose a mandatory fine of no less than $50 and no more than $250 for aliens who attempt to enter the country illegally. For illegal aliens caught re-entering the country twice within one year, the INS would have the ability to seize assets. Mandatory prosecution and full sentencing of all illegal aliens caught re-entering the United States over 2 times. Increase penalties for immigrant smuggling so that first offenses carry fines and a minimum of three years imprisonment, assessed on a per immigrant (rather than transaction) basis; a doubling of penalties for employers who knowingly use immigrant smugglers; and adding immigrant smuggling to the list of crimes punishable under current anti-racketeering laws (RICO). The most powerful ``pull'' factors are access to jobs and public benefits. Taking away access to jobs and public benefits will deter future illegal entry while acting as an incentive for illegal aliens already in the country to return to their country of citizenship. Task Force recommendations in this area include: Implement an aggressive campaign against fraudulent documents by creating an interstate database of birth and death records and standardizing birth certificates. Increase criminal penalties for possession and production of fraudulent documents from five years to fifteen years. Implement two pilot programs for worker verification: One pilot would provide for a computerized registry using INS and Social Security data and the other would provide for a tamper-proof social security card. Increase penalties on businesses who hire illegal aliens. Deny all federal public benefits to illegal aliens except emergency medical services. Provide states with the ability to provide or deny public education for primary, secondary, and post-secondary education to illegal aliens. Require illegal aliens who have received or are receiving public benefits or services illegally to pay back the full costs of these benefits and services, with penalties. Allow states to notify INS of the presence of illegal aliens so that INS can apprehend and deport such individuals. End birthright citizenship to children of illegal immigrants. Removal of illegal aliens residing in the United States The United States must have the will and capability to remove illegal immigrants. An important part of the Task Force's strategy involves the deportation and exclusion of illegal aliens, as well as reform of the political asylum process. INS must be equipped, both in terms of resources and legislative reforms, to detain and physically remove aliens who have forfeited the right to be in this country. The key recommendations by the Task Force to exclude or deport aliens who are violating our laws are: Increase INS detention space to at least 9,000 beds. Use closed military bases for the detention of inadmissable or deportable aliens. Provide for expedited exclusion at ports of entry to prevent the entry of illegal aliens. Streamline deportation process to reduce time to process cases. Keep deportation orders in force for deported aliens who re-enter the United States illegally to more efficiently use INS' limited resources. Extend minimum deportation period from five to ten years for illegal aliens. Designate aliens who enter without INS inspection as excludable, placing them in the same position as aliens who attempt to enter illegally at a port of entry. Require detention of all criminal aliens. Provide for Federal reimbursement to state and local governments for the costs of incarcerating criminal aliens. Mandate INS to take custody of criminal aliens on probation and parole before they are released onto our streets. Modify prisoner transfer treaty programs to save taxpayers' dollars. Deport criminal aliens to the interior of their native country to prevent immediate re-entry. Significantly increase resources to prosecute deported felons who illegally re-enter our country. Develop computerized system to identify visa overstays to increase deportations of long-term violators. Deny long-term visa overstays from receiving future visas. Tighten visa issuance procedures in problem countries. Eliminate consulate shopping for persons seeking visas to improve screening of visa applicants. Restrict visa waiver program to countries with low visa overstay rates. This strategy also includes long overdue political asylum reforms. Simply put, the abuse in this system has to be stopped. Persons with valid claims who are fleeing persecution abroad need to be processed and approved quickly. On the other hand, those with fraudulent applications need to be adjudicated and returned overseas without tying up our courts for years. Key recommendations are: Provide procedures for expedited exclusion of persons claiming asylum. Streamline present exclusion procedures and decrease length of asylum process. Deny political asylum to alien terrorists. Establish proactive interdiction programs to respond more effectively to immigration emergencies.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, stopping the 300,000 illegal immigrants that stream across our border each year in pickup trucks and under barbed wire fences is the most important Federal law and order issue in generations. This is a modified closed rule providing for comprehensive consideration of H.R. 2202, legislation addressing two critical national issues: Getting control of illegal immigration, and improving our system of legal immigration. Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, while H.R. 2202 is tough on those who enter this country illegally, it maintains and strengthens legal immigration, ensuring that immigrants remain a positive force for change, growth, and prosperity. This rule provides for 2 hours of general debate, equally divided between the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary. The rule waives all points of order against the bill except those relating to unfunded Federal mandates. I would note that the Congressional Budget Office has determined that the mandates in the bill are minimal and do not establish grounds for a point of order against the bill. The rule makes in order the Committee on the Judiciary amendment in the nature of a substitute as modified by the amendment printed in part 1 of the report of the Committee on Rules. That amendment establishes a voluntary program to permit businesses to check the validity of Social Security numbers in order to help ensure that Federal laws regarding the employment of illegal immigrants are obeyed. The amendment in the nature of a substitute is considered as read. The rules provides for the consideration of 32 amendments. Let me say that again, Mr. Speaker: 32 amendments have been made in order. That are printed in the report of the Committee on Rules. They shall be considered only in the order in which they are printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debated for the time specified in the report, shall not be subject to amendment unless specified in the committee report, and shall not be subject to a division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule waives all points of order against the amendments, other than those relating to the unfunded mandates issue. Mr. Speaker, the rule allows the chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during consideration of the bill, as well as to reduce to 5 minutes the time on a postponed question if it follows a 15-minute vote. The rule also permits the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary or his designee to offer amendments en bloc or germane modifications thereof. Amendments offered en bloc shall be considered as read and shall be debatable for 20 minutes. The issue of both legal and illegal immigration is one of the most contentious debates that we will have this year. This rule, while not an open rule, is fair and very balanced. It offers the House the opportunity to debate nearly all of the important and substantive issues surrounding both illegal and legal immigration reform. This debate will stretch over more than 2 days, and will highlight the important issues addressed by this well-crafted legislation. The bill's principal author, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Smith], has worked long and hard ensuring that all parties truly interested in dealing with the overlapping issues of illegal and legal immigration have participated in a bipartisan process. Mr. Speaker, illegal immigration has reached crisis proportions in my State of California. We deal daily with a flood of illegal immigrants who are coming across the border seeking government services, job opportunities, and family members. There is simply no question that the President, for all his rhetoric, has failed to make this a top priority. He opposed California's proposition 187. He vetoed legislation establishing that illegal immigrants are not entitled to Federal and State welfare services. He vetoed reimbursement to the States for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrant felons, and his Justice Department has been woefully slow in disbursing to States the meager incarceration funds that were appropriated back in 1994. Mr. Speaker, as Members well know, California will never support a President that is soft on illegal immigration. Illegal immigration might just be taking center stage in Washington today, but the issue is like an overnight sensation in Hollywood. This is a problem that has been building up for years and years. A decade ago my colleague, the gentleman from Glendale, CA [Mr. Moorhead], who is retiring after 24 years of highly distinguished service, offered amendments to strengthen the Border Patrol when Congress last addressed immigration reform. Many Members of Congress, especially the Members from California, like Mr. Kim, Mr. Bilbray, Mrs. Seastrand, Mr. Riggs, Mr. Gallegly, and others, have worked for years to address illegal immigration in the comprehensive manner of H.R. 2202. Just as California suffers from more illegal immigration than any State, California is home to more legal immigrants and refugees than any other State. Those immigrants have brought tremendous benefits to our State. I am proud of the fact that H.R. 2202 will allow us to maintain one of the highest levels of legal immigration in 70 years. That in itself is a good and positive move, because this country was founded on legal immigration. Legal immigrants continue to provide the United States with a steady stream of hard-working, freedom-loving, patriotic new Americans. Legal immigrants bringing special skills to our workplace have been instrumental in placing American firms, especially many in California, on the cutting edge of high technology. Mr. Speaker, as we look at the broad range of amendments that will be brought forward this week, we will first debate issues relating to illegal immigration. Then after addressing that issue, the House will address the different but related issue of legal immigration. We will clearly have an opportunity to debate nearly all controversial issues. The gentleman from California [Mr. Gallegly], the chairman of the Speaker's task force on illegal immigration, will offer amendments to create a mandatory but clearly nonintrusive Social Security number verification program to reduce the employment lure for illegal immigration. He will also offer a very sensible amendment to clarify that States have the right to determine if local and State tax dollars will be used to give free education to illegal immigrants. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Washington [Mr. Tate] and the gentlewoman from California [Mrs. Seastrand] will offer a commonsense amendment to clarify that if someone violates American laws and enters the country illegally, then they will no longer be eligible to later become a legal immigrant. Legal immigration should be reserved for those who respect our laws. Mr. Speaker, finally we are certain to have lively debates regarding the creation of a tamper resistant Social Security card as well as an effort to eliminate the bill's voluntary system to verify the accuracy of Social Security numbers. The House bill will also be able to debate the legal immigration provisions of the bill. Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, this bill establishes a very generous level of immigration by historical standards; however, it focuses legal immigration policy on reunifying nuclear families so that spouses and young children are reunited in strong families. This is a good and very important thing. Nevertheless, there is disagreement on these provisions and the House will decide this question. The bipartisan amendment offered by the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Chrysler] and the gentleman from California [Mr. Berman] and the gentleman from Kansas [Mr. Brownback], which seeks to maintain the status quo on legal immigration, is in order under this rule. The amendment by the Committee on Agriculture to create a new guest worker program will also come before this House by the gentleman from California [Mr. Pombo] and others. Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Rules has made in order 32 amendments, as I have said. This is a fair rule that will let the House deal responsibly with H.R. 2202 and send the legislation to the Senate in a timely manner. Immigration reform is important to our Nation's economic and social future, and I urge my colleagues to support this rule. Mr. Speaker, I include the following material for the Record.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my dear friend and Committee on Rules colleague, the gentleman from Sanibel, FL [Mr. Goss], chairman of the Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process. (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. Hunter], a tireless advocate of border security, my classmate from El Cajon, CA.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Huntington Beach, CA [Mr. Rohrabacher], my very good friend and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. Beilenson]. All time yielded is for the purposes of debate only. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous material.)

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that during consideration of H.R. 2202, pursuant to House Resolution 384, it shall be in order for the designated proponents of the amendments numbered 11, 12, and 13 in part 2 of House Report 104-483 to offer their amendments in modified forms to accommodate the changes in the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary that are reflected in part 1 of that report, and effected by the adoption of the rule; and it shall be in order for the designated proponent of the amendment numbered 19 in part 2 of House Report 104-483 to offer his amendment in a modified form that strikes from title V all except section 522 of subtitle D.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I would remind my California colleague that we have made 32 amendments in order, which will allow for a full 2 days of debate looking at almost every aspect of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, with that, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my very good friend, the gentleman from Roanoke, VA [Mr. Goodlatte].

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the hard-working gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Ganske].

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Miami, FL [Ms. Ros-Lehtinen], who is here on the floor with her very able assistant Patty.

Mr. DREIER. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, I am simply stating the facts on what this administration has done. The President vetoed the bill that called for funding for reimbursement to the States for the incarceration of illegals. The President opposed proposition 187.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, again I rise in strong support of this very fair and balanced rule. The issue of illegal immigration and legal immigration are among the most pressing that we will face in the 104th Congress. The Federal Government, through the legislative branch, is finally stepping up to the plate and acknowledging its responsibility to deal with the issue of illegal immigration, and we are calling for the very important reforms to legal immigration that the American people believe are essential. I said the legislative branch because, unfortunately, this administration has failed time and time again to deal with the issue of illegal immigration. As we looked at questions like proposition 187 in California, it was designed to end the magnet of government services drawing people illegally across the border. President Clinton fought hard against proposition 187. Fortunately the voters of California overwhelmingly passed proposition 187. When we look at the issue of the Federal Government reimbursing the States for the incarceration of illegal immigrant felons, what happened? President Clinton vetoed that legislation. When we look at a wide range of proposals, we have had to tackle this issue time and time again. Our friend down at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has stood in the way of our attempts to deal responsibly with this.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I am trying to give my closing remarks.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I know that I first want to express my great appreciation to my very good friends who are sitting and standing behind me at this point, and I will be as brief as possible. I have risen to briefly talk about the rule that we are going to be considering next Tuesday, which the Committee on Rules has reported out just a couple of hours ago and which I have just filed at the desk. The issue of reform of both legal and illegal immigration is one of the most contentious debates that we will have, and it will take place next week. The rule that we are considering is one of the most fair and balanced rules that could possibly be offered. In fact, we had over 100, I believe 104, amendments that were filed to the Committee on Rules by noon yesterday, and we spent today considering those amendments, and we have made in order 32 amendments that will be considered. The issue of illegal immigration is a very difficult and pressing one for my State of California. We in California deal daily with the flood of illegal immigrants who are coming across the border seeking either government services, job opportunities, seeking family members, and it is very important that we take strong and decisive action here at the Federal level to deal with that problem. In the area of legal immigration, I am very pleased that this legislation will allow us to maintain the highest level of legal immigration in 70 years and that in itself is a very good and positive move, because this country was founded on legal immigration and this country has had tremendous benefits because of immigrants who continue to come to this country today. In fact, my State of California and other parts of this country are on the cutting edge technologically and in many other areas because of legal immigration. So I would like to congratulate the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Smith], who has worked long and hard throughout the past year and up until just recently, and he has been working, as he said today, nearly 12 hours a day constantly trying to bring this legislation forward. As we look at the many different amendments that are going to be considered next week when we proceed with this legislation, one of the most controversial and hotly debated has been the proposal that was offered by the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Chrysler, and my California colleague, Mr. Berman, and the gentleman from Kansas, Mr. Brownback, seeking to split the legislation. That is an amendment that will be made to order, will be considered. So, as we look at the resolution which I have just sent down that will allow us to bring about debate on the issue of legal and illegal immigration, I believe that we are taking a very bold and positive step toward getting the Federal Government to step up to the plate and acknowledge its responsibility. It has been a long time since we have been able to do this, and there are many problems that have taken place because of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, IRCA, that need to be addressed, and I am pleased that we will in time be doing that. I would simply say, Mr. Speaker, that I anxiously look forward to a very interesting debate which will be far-reaching and allow every single proposal that has come forward to be considered and discussed.

Mr. DREIER

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to continue with what my friend opened with, and that is responding to this preposterous claim that came from the well by my friend, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Edwards], on this issue of medical funding for veterans. I have just been given by the staff of the Committee on Appropriations the following statement: Funding in this bill, H.R. 3019, at the conference report level of the regular bill, H.R. 2099, is $16,654,000,000. This amount is approximately $400 million above the fiscal year 1995 post-rescission level, and is the only increase of any significance in the fiscal year 1996 VA-HUD appropriation, and in fact, this level is $400 million below the fiscal year 1996 request. The claim that somehow Jesse Brown is being victimized by this, their administration requested $400 million less, so they should not claim that we are not doing anything other than trying to improve the challenges that our veterans face. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the rule is in the eye of the beholder, and we have a slightly different perspective on the structure of these rules. At this point I include in the Record the following chart that will go along with that from the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Moakley].

Mr. DREIER. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, we are looking for the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Walker] to respond. I am sorry, I do not have a response for my friend.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I move the previous question on the amendment and the resolution.

Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 372 and ask for its immediate consideration.