[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 447]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  IMMIGRATION REFORM NEEDED IN MEXICO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 20, 2004, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, good afternoon. With our Nation's 
dedication to homeland security after the horrors of September 11, most 
citizens believe today that it is time to strengthen, secure our 
borders and reform our immigration policies.
  It appears that some type of reforms are on the horizon. And reforms 
are needed. Many of us on this floor believe that above all else, we 
should enforce our immigration laws that are currently on the books. It 
is the men and women who stand on our borders today, enforcing these 
laws every day, but they may be confused. Unsure of their relevance, 
border agents are now questioning why they must fight each day to 
secure our borders in light of the proposed ``guest worker'' program.
  This program was to help Mexico's President Fox as part of a large 
amnesty plan that has been in the works since September 11 after the 
terrorist attacks. But, Mr. Speaker, a question could be asked, why are 
we rewarding a country that has been opposed to our war on terror?
  According to the Subcommittee on Social Security of the House 
Committee on Ways and Means, benefits paid to retirees will exceed 
revenues in just 15 years. The pay-as-you-go system could have serious 
financial problems in the year 2030. These projections do not take into 
account the economic impact of the ``guest worker'' proposal, which 
would allow untold millions of illegal aliens from Mexico to collect 
benefits for themselves and their families from their home country 
without having to work the required number of years that law-abiding 
citizens must work to be eligible for these same payouts.
  The deal may cost overburdened U.S. taxpayers over the next 20 years 
also. Supporters of this ``guest worker'' program call this program, 
``totalization.'' I am not sure what they mean. But, this proposed 
agreement could be thought of as a transfer of wealth from those who 
play by the rules the American way to those who willingly and knowingly 
mock our own immigration and tax laws.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe it is time for Mr. Fox, the President of 
Mexico, to look to his own country for reform instead of his continuing 
to lobby to change U.S. policy. Vital reforms in Mexico will break down 
the barriers to economic growth and provide more and better 
opportunities for the people of Mexico. Similar reform in other 
regional countries will reduce the incentives to make the difficult 
trek into our country. The President's plan, although convenient, 
merely, I believe, postpones our reckoning with a situation in which 
over 8 million people are here illegally.
  I certainly hope that the administration will take a hard look at 
this ``guest worker'' program that is being proposed and perhaps look 
for real immigration reform first, and that, Mr. Speaker, could start 
with reform in the state of Mexico.

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