[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 20774]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           URGING SUPPORT FOR THE STEARNS-BLACKBURN AMENDMENT

  (Mrs. BLACKBURN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the concerns of many 
of our small businesses in the Seventh District of Tennessee. The 
ongoing debate over illegal immigration has brought many issues to 
light. While this issue is trudging its way through Congress, small 
businesses are stuck trying to figure out how to confront the problems 
of illegal immigration that are created at the local level.
  For instance, these businesses should have the right to refuse to 
hire or fire a person who cannot speak English. An employer who signs 
the paycheck and pays payroll taxes, and their customers, should be 
able to communicate with an employee. But under current law that small 
businessman can be sued by the Federal Government for refusing to hire 
or in some cases firing a person who cannot communicate in English. As 
ridiculous as this sounds, it is true.
  That is why today I will offer a commonsense amendment to the 
Commerce-Justice-State approps bill that will close the ridiculous 
loophole and offer some protection to the businesses that drive our 
economy and employ our citizens.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join this effort to protect our mom-
and-pop businesses, not because it is a hard line against illegal 
immigration, but because it is the right thing to do.

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