[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.

                          ____________________