[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S45-S46]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID (for himself, Mr. Levin, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 
        Begich, Mr. Durbin,

[[Page S46]]

        Mr. Leahy, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. 
        Lieberman, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Schumer):
  S. 9. A bill to strenghten the United States economy, provide for 
more effective border and employment enforcement, and for other 
purposes; read the first time.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the 
bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                  S. 9

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Stronger Economy, Stronger 
     Borders Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that Congress should enact, and 
     the President should sign, legislation to strengthen the 
     economy, recognize the heritage of the United States as a 
     nation of immigrants, and amend the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) by--
       (1) providing more effective border and employment 
     enforcement;
       (2) preventing illegal immigration; and
       (3) reforming and rationalizing avenues for legal 
     immigration.

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. Presdient, as we begin the 111th Congress, we will 
try, once again, to enact comprehensive immigration reforms that have 
eluded us in the past several years. With an administration that 
understands the critical necessity of meaningful reform and that 
understands the policy failures of the last 8 years, I am hopeful that 
the new Congress can finally enact legislation consistent with our 
history as a nation of immigrants.
  The majority leader has included immigration reform as among the 
legislative priorities for the new Congress. I look forward to working 
with him, Senator Kennedy, Senator McCain, and others interested in 
working toward the goal of immigration reform.
  In 2006 and 2007, Congress attempted to pass practical and effective 
reforms to our immigration system. In 2006, the Senate did its part and 
passed legislation, only to be thwarted by those in the House of 
Representatives who opposed dealing with the issue in a meaningful way. 
In 2007, the House passed legislation only to have it blocked in the 
Senate by Republican Members opposed to effective reform.
  If our immigration policies are to be effective and play a role in 
restoring America's image around the world, we must reject the failed 
policies of the last 8 years. We cannot continue to deny asylum seekers 
because they have been forced at the point of a gun to provide 
assistance to those engaged in terrorist acts. We cannot continue to 
label as terrorist organizations those who have stood by the United 
States in armed conflict. We must not tolerate the tragic and needless 
death of a person in our custody for lack of basic medical care. We 
must ensure that children are not needlessly separated from their 
parents and that family unity is respected.
  We must move beyond the current policy that is focused on detaining 
and deporting those undocumented workers who have been abused and 
exploited by American employers but does nothing to change an 
environment that remains ripe for these abuses. We must protect the 
rights and opportunities of American workers and, at the same time, 
ensure that our Nation's farmers and employers have the help they need. 
We should improve the opportunities and make more efficient the 
processes for those who seek to come to America with the goal of 
becoming new Americans, whether to invest in our communities and create 
jobs, to be reunited with loved ones, or to seek freedom and 
opportunity and a better life. We must also live up to the goal of 
family reunification in our immigration policy and join at least 19 
other nations that provide immigration equality to same-sex partners of 
different nationalities. And I believe we would be wise to reconsider 
the effectiveness and cost of a wall along our southern border, which 
has adversely affected the fragile environment and vibrant cross-border 
culture of an entire region. Such a wall stands as a symbol of fear and 
intolerance. This is not what America is about and we can do better.
  Those who oppose a realistic solution to address the estimated 
millions of people currently living and working in the United States 
without proper documentation have offered no alternative solution other 
than harsh penalties and more enforcement. The policies of the last 8 
years, which have served only to appease the most extreme ideologues, 
must be replaced with sensible solutions. I am confident that our 
country and our economy will be far more secure when those who are 
currently living in the shadows of our society are recognized and 
provided the means to become lawful residents, if not a path to 
citizenship.
  As President-elect Obama's administration considers immigration 
issues, I look forward to working closely with them and with the 
Senate's leadership to find the best solutions. President-elect Obama's 
nominees to lead the Department of Homeland Security and the Department 
of Labor understand very well the importance of sensible border 
policies and the importance of workers' rights. The American people 
look to all of us to forge a consensus for immigration reform that 
rejects the extreme ideology that has attended this issue and prevented 
real progress.
                                 ______