Barbara Mikulski: “I do rise, along with my very distinguished colleague from Virginia, Senator John Warner--we are bipartisan…”

“I do rise, along with my very distinguished colleague from Virginia, Senator John Warner--we are bipartisan cosponsors--to offer an amendment that is much needed by small and seasonal businesses across the Nation. Our amendment is needed. We believe that it is supported by the Judiciary Committee. But most of all, the American people will agree that this amendment is much needed. This is a bipartisan amendment. What does it do? First, it protects our borders by rewarding immigrants and employers who play by the rules, workers who come here on a seasonal basis but return to their families when they are finished with their job and go back home. These workers honor their legal commitment to come to work under legally supervised jobs and then they return home. No. 2, it does protect American workers by requiring that all employers recruit American workers before they hire these immigrants, and it makes sure that small business will be able to pay their U.S. workers 12 months out of the year. No. 3, it protects American jobs by keeping small and seasonal business open for business. It guarantees the labor supply that small businesses need during peak seasons is available, when they can't find Americans to take their jobs. So No. 1, it protects our borders by allowing only those in this country who intend to go back home. It supports legal immigration.…”