[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16894]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CAFTA: AN IMPORTANT TOOL IN THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO ILLEGAL 
                              IMMIGRATION

  (Mr. CONAWAY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, passing the Central American Free Trade 
Agreement will not necessitate any changes in U.S. immigration law or 
U.S. visa policy. Congressional power over immigration policy will go 
unchanged when this important trade agreement takes effect.
  However, CAFTA will help prevent illegal immigration in the long run 
by improving economic conditions in the Central American countries. By 
stimulating their economy and creating jobs, the tide of illegal 
immigrants from these nations will decrease.
  Most individuals and families who come to the United States legally 
and illegally are simply seeking economic opportunity. The best long-
term solution to illegal immigration can be achieved by encouraging 
economic freedom, as well as sustained growth, and the creation of 
sufficient opportunities and securities in their respective homelands.
  I support CAFTA because it will create new economic opportunities 
domestically and internationally by eliminating tariffs, opening 
markets, permitting transparency, and establishing state-of-the-art 
rules for 21st-century commerce. By supporting and passing trade 
agreements such as CAFTA, the United States allows for greater economic 
incentives and opportunities in other countries. In turn, we will 
reduce the number of immigrants attempting to enter the United States 
illegally.
  CAFTA is a trade agreement providing great opportunities for all 
nations involved.

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