Doug Bereuter: “I rise in opposition to the Smith-Schiff amendment. Not too long ago, the Congress of the United States established a…”

“I rise in opposition to the Smith-Schiff amendment. Not too long ago, the Congress of the United States established a U.S. Commission On Immigration Reform, or CIR. It was a very distinguished panel. They have made their recommendations to the Congress. Among the more active members of that Commission was our late distinguished colleague from Texas, Ms. Barbara Jordan. I think that we should pay attention to what they recommended. Mr. Chairman, here are the most important recommendations, and they are consistent with the legislation coming from the committee. The United States should allocate 75,000 refugee admission numbers in 1997 and 50,000 admission numbers each year thereafter to the entry of refugees from overseas not including asylum adjustments. Second, they said other than in an emergency situation, refugee admissions could exceed the 50,000 admissions level only with the direct and affirmative participation by Congress. That should occur instead of the current, and I think very ineffective, consultation process that actually works today, or does not work. Third, in the case of the emergency, the President may authorize the admission of additional refugees upon certification on the emergency circumstances necessitating such action. The Congress may override the emergency admissions only with the two-House veto of the Presidential action. That is what the Commission has recommended.”