Howard Berman: “first I want to say to my colleague from California, whom I have known for 34 years, who walked precincts in his first…”

“first I want to say to my colleague from California, whom I have known for 34 years, who walked precincts in his first campaign, that I will truly, sincerely and sorely miss him. He is a model legislator and a pleasure to work with. I wish him well. The gentleman from Arizona, who spoke a few minutes ago, is so totally wrong when he says this is the bill that will finally do something about illegal immigration. Everyone knows, when they think about it, the only effective ways to do something to deter illegal immigration are at the border, and this bill authorizes more Border Patrol, but already the Committee on Appropriations and the administration have gone far beyond the authorization contained in this particular bill to do that. Setting up and committing to a national verification program to make employer sanctions meaningful. This bill started out like that but totally fell apart on the House floor, primarily at the behest of the majority party Members. And then to go after those industries that systematically recruit and employ illegal immigrants in order to have a competitive edge in wages and working conditions in their own operations. The Border Patrol increase is being done by the administration and the other 2 provisions are outrageously ignored in this conference report. I voted for this bill when it came out of the House of Representatives. I indicated I would vote for it in the form it was in if the Gallegly amendment was removed.”