[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 BORDER PROTECTION, ANTITERRORISM, AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CONTROL ACT 
                                OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. PAUL RYAN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2005

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4437) to 
     amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to strengthen 
     enforcement of the immigration laws, to enhance border 
     security, and for other purposes:

  Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, after long deliberation and 
discussion with the bill's author, I decided to vote ``aye'' on H.R. 
4437. This bill is far from complete, and far from being ready to 
become law. Yet, it has become clear that Congress will deal with 
immigration reform through several stages in a long process during the 
next session of the 109th Congress. I supported H.R. 4437 to begin this 
process, so we can ultimately achieve comprehensive immigration reform.
  Among the provisions I believe are instrumental toward achieving such 
reform are the reforms to secure our borders. Border security is no 
longer simply an issue of illegal immigration. It is an issue of 
national security, where we are vulnerable to terrorist infiltration. 
This proposal offers a comprehensive way to address this threat.
  However, I have several concerns with this legislation that must be 
addressed in order to receive my support for a final, comprehensive 
solution to fixing our broken immigration system.
  First and foremost, the provision in H.R. 4437 that makes 
undocumented alien status a federal felony is totally unacceptable. 
Prior to the bill's passing, I received a commitment from the author, 
Chairman Sensenbrenner, that this provision will be removed. Second, 
the employer verification system proposed in this bill is unworkable 
and must be fixed. Third, a final bill should include the creation of a 
secure, legal channel by which foreign workers needed to keep the 
United States' economy growing may enter and leave the country. And, 
finally, we must bring into the open, in a reasonable and fair manner, 
the millions of immigrants who are living in our communities without 
any documentation. Failure to address all of these issues will simply 
prolong our broken immigration system.
  Because Congress is so divided on how to achieve comprehensive 
reform, it has become clear to me that such reform will occur in stages 
over the course of the next year. I look forward to working with my 
colleagues in both political parties to make sure the final version of 
this legislative effort is one we can all be proud to support.

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