[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 5895]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           IMMIGRATION REFORM

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise to express concern about the 
consideration of comprehensive immigration reform legislation. As a 
member of the Judiciary Committee, I have been involved in the 
democratic process of reviewing, amending, and voting on this year's 
immigration bill. I was one of six Republicans who opposed the 
legislation in the committee on March 27.
  When the bill was brought to the floor of the U.S. Senate, a select 
group of Members forged a ``compromise'' that drastically changed title 
VI of the bill that deals with the 11 million illegal aliens currently 
in the United States.
  The Senate had very little time to review the bill. Moreover, some 
Members opposed any amendment that would change the Hagel-Martinez 
compromise. I had numerous amendments that would have improved the 
bill. However, the other side of the aisle refused to let our 
deliberative body do its job.
  As a representative of the people of Iowa, I believe amendments 
should be debated. Therefore, I have asked the majority leader to make 
me aware of any unanimous consent agreements that both sides aim to 
enter into before unanimous consent is agreed to. I ask unanimous 
consent that my letter be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                             United States Senate,


                                          Charles E. Grassley,

                                   Washington, DC, April 25, 2005.
     Hon. William Frist,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC
       Dear Leader Frist: I respectfully request that I be 
     consulted prior to the entering into of any and all Unanimous 
     Consent Agreements with regard to the Senate's ongoing 
     consideration of any and all immigration reform or border 
     security related legislation. This would include, but not be 
     limited to, S. 2611 and S. 2612. Thank you.
           Sincerely,
                                              Charles E. Grassley,
     United States Senator

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