[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 34 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S2297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IMMIGRATION REFORM
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am encouraged by reports regarding
progress the Judiciary Committee made on the immigration bill today. I
understand that the committee has scheduled a meeting for Monday, March
27 when we return from our break to try to conclude work on the bill.
It is very important that we allow this process to continue. The
committee should be given the opportunity to report out a consensus
bill on a bipartisan basis. I want to commend Senators Specter, Leahy,
and Kennedy, among others, for their efforts to draft a comprehensive
immigration bill and I hope that the Leader will give them the time
they need to complete their work.
I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record letters that
were sent to Senator Frist today from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the
National Restaurant Association and the National Roofing Contractors
Association that express a similar desire.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America,
Washington, DC, March 16, 2006,
Hon. Bill Frist,
Senate Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Frist: On behalf of the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce, the world's largest business federation
representing more than three million businesses and
organizations of every size, sector, and region, I am writing
to request that you allow the Senate Judiciary Committee
additional time to develop and report out an immigration
reform measure for consideration by the full Senate.
While we fully appreciate that the Senate floor schedule is
very crowded, and that you must adhere to a schedule to move
important legislation through the process, it is apparent
that more time is needed by the Committee to adequately
consider the many complex issues surrounding immigration.
Hundreds of amendments have been introduced by Senators
sitting on the Committee, and it would seem that those
actually offered should be given due consideration.
Unfortunately, it has now become clear that this will be
impossible under a deadline of March 27, with the result that
the Committee will not be able to report out a bill by that
deadline. The Committee has an obvious expertise to bring to
bear on the many difficult, and frankly, controversial issues
involved and it should be given an adequate opportunity to
shape legislation before consideration by the full Senate.
Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.
Sincerely,
R. Bruce Josten.
March 16, 2006.
Hon. Bill Frist,
Senate Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Frist: On behalf of the National Roofing
Contractors Association (NRCA), we write today to urge you to
allow the Senate Judiciary Committee the time necessary to
complete its work on an immigration reform measure for
consideration by the full Senate. We fully appreciate the
breadth of business placing demands on the Senate calendar,
but given the paramount economic and national security
concerns addressed in this legislation, it is imperative that
the Committee have adequate time to consider the complexities
of immigration reform in a full and reasoned fashion.
Established in 1886, NRCA is one of the nation's oldest
trade associations and the voice of roofing contractors
worldwide. It is an association of roofing and waterproofing
contractors, material manufacturers, distributors,
architects, consultants and engineers. NRCA has over 5,000
member companies from all 50 states and 54 countries and is
affiliated with 105 local, state, regional and international
roofing contractor associations.
As you are aware, hundreds of amendments have been
submitted by Committee members. Unfortunately, it has become
clear during the markup process that your March 27 deadline
will not be met given the sheer volume of amendments to be
considered.
We commend you for your commitment to bringing immigration
reform before the full Senate. The topic is one of our most
pressing public policy challenges and ripe for discussion.
Toward that end, NRCA looks forward to a vigorous and
comprehensive debate on the Senate floor that addresses
America's national security needs, while ensuring the long-
term health of our economy.
Respectfully submitted,
Craig S. Brightup,
Vice President, Government Relations.
R. Craig Silvertooth,
Director of Federal Affairs.
____
National Restaurant Association,
March 16, 2006.
Hon. Bill Frist,
U.S. Senate, Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Frist: On behalf of the National Restaurant
Association, I am writing to ask that more time be allotted
to allow the Judiciary Committee to complete its work on
comprehensive immigration reform legislation presently before
it.
We greatly appreciate your setting aside substantial time
on the Senate calendar for consideration of this critically
important bill, but think that time would be best spent if
the Senate could have the benefit of full consideration of
the proposal by the committee of jurisdiction.
Given the tremendous number of amendments offered thus far,
and the conflicts with other committee and floor activities
impeding the Judiciary Committee's ability to operate, it is
clear that without an extension the Committee will be unable
to complete its work by the deadline you had earlier set.
In the interest of producing the best possible policy, we
respectfully urge you to extend the deadline to allow the
Committee to complete its responsibilities,
Sincerely,
John Gay,
Senior Vice President,
Government Affairs and Public Policy.
____________________