[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 53 (Thursday, May 2, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    BARBARA JORDAN IMMIGRATION REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 25, 2002

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3231 and 
encourage my colleagues to vote for this important bipartisan measure 
to reform our Nation's immigration system.
  The Immigration and Naturalization Service, created in 1933 to 
consolidate immigration, border control, and naturalization functions 
in various departments, has been plagued for years by bureaucratic 
inefficiency, wasteful practices, and an unclear mission. At first, 
Congress responded to the problem by increasing funding for the agency, 
quadrupling its budget from $1.4 billion to $5.6 billion between fiscal 
years 1992 and 2002. Despite the infusion of resources, the INS 
reported an increase in its backlog of visa and immigration-related 
applications.
  Though a commission chaired by former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan 
recommended in 1997 that the INS be dismantled, Congress still did not 
take the drastic action necessary to fix the problems of an agency that 
had become for many Americans the stereotype of Federal bureaucracy. 
However, when the INS sent student visa confirmations for two of the 
September 11 terrorists--six months after their attacks on America--the 
subsequent public outrage expedited much-needed reform. I commend 
Chairman Sensenbrenner and Ranking Member Conyers for their cooperation 
in crafting a common-sense bipartisan measure that will address many of 
the INS's existing problems. The separation of the INS into the Bureau 
of Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Bureau of Immigration 
Enforcement will prevent the type of mission conflict that plagues the 
current agency. I also approve of the creation of an Associate Attorney 
General to oversee the functions of these two bureaus and to emphasize 
the importance of immigration matters within the Justice Department.
  However, I would be remiss if I did not express the concerns of some 
of my constituents, who fear that splitting a bureaucracy into two only 
creates two bureaucracies. I have to laugh as I am reminded of the 
perils of Hercules as he tried to slay Hydra, the nine-headed snake, 
which grew two heads for every one that was chopped off. Instead, we 
must strike at the heart of our current problem, and I believe that 
H.R. 3231 will effectively accomplish this goal. I will be carefully 
monitoring the implementation of INS reform to see that the new bureaus 
are efficient, responsive and focused in their mission.

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