Harry Reid: “In answer to the Senator, I repeat that I have the greatest respect for the thousands of people who came to this country…”

“In answer to the Senator, I repeat that I have the greatest respect for the thousands of people who came to this country and are here now as a result of H-1B legislation. It is very important. Those high-tech jobs are important. But I say to my friend from Massachusetts that it is just as important to people who work in these restaurants and who work in these health care facilities as nurses, as cooks, as waiters, as waitresses, and as maids, their jobs are just as important because people who are running these establishments need these essential workers. That is who they are. "Essential workers." They are skilled and semi-skilled workers. I say to my friend from Massachusetts that we have had a hue and cry from the people on the other side of the aisle and from the Governor of Texas and others saying they believe there should be fairness to Latino immigrants. The best way to express that desire for fairness is to allow us to vote on this measure. Let's have an up-or-down vote on the amendment offered by myself, the Senator from Massachusetts, the Senator from Illinois, Senator Reed of Rhode Island, and Senator Graham of Florida. Let's move this debate along. We could speed up the time. We would agree to a half hour evenly divided. It could take 30 minutes. Vote on it and move on. I would like to see how people would express themselves on this vote. It is very important. I have a constituency that is watching this very closely.”