For Immediate Release:

Thursday, May 25, 2006

(Washington, D.C.) – Today I voted to pass comprehensive immigration legislation because it addresses many of the priorities for reform that I outlined at the start of this debate. This has been a challenging discussion with strong feelings on all sides. I have never forgotten that this debate is about more than fences and visa cards. It's about people's lives and the values our country represents.

This bill isn't perfect, and I voted against provisions that were wrong for our state and the direction of our nation. Overall, this bill provides comprehensive reform that will help Washington state and our nation by improving our security and our economy, while advancing a tough, but fair, approach to the complex issues surrounding immigration.

I've spent the past few months meeting with people across our state from all walks of life about the challenges and opportunities of immigration reform. From law enforcement, I've heard about the challenges of securing our borders and the need for more federal resources. From farmers, I've heard about the huge labor needs for our state's largest economic sector. From immigrants, I've heard about the many challenges they face helping their families achieve a better life. From human rights and religious leaders, I've heard about the need for laws that reflect our country's compassion and values. From business leaders and educators, I've heard about the impact of immigration on our economy and schools. I've also heard from advocates for farmworker housing and from residents of communities large and small. I want to thank those who have taken the time to share their ideas and concerns with me and to help inform my work in the Senate.

Overall, this bill advances most of my priorities for immigration reform. As I noted in March, a reform bill should do seven things. It should improve enforcement. It should treat the Northern border fairly. It should include a guest worker plan so that industries like Washington agriculture can remain viable. It should provide a path forward so that people who are here have an opportunity to become citizens and realize the American Dream. It should protect the rights of victims and refugees. It should not criminalize compassionate individuals who provide healthcare, education, food or shelter for immigrants. And finally, it should provide the resources to help families rise above their circumstances through education and training, which will then help our nation grow and prosper. On that last measure, this bill falls far short, and it is one of the areas that I hope will be improved.

The next step is for the bill we passed in the Senate to be reconciled with the House version. I strongly oppose the House-passed bill because it is narrowly focused on enforcement along the Southern border, ignores many of the problems of the Northern border, does nothing to address the economic demands of our state's economy, and takes a punitive approach to immigration. I hope that House and Senate leaders will send us a comprehensive bill that reflects the priorities I've outlined so we can move forward with real and meaningful reform.

As I noted at the start of this debate, we should make sure our actions reflect our security, our economy, and the opportunity that America offers generations of immigrants. Let's take the time to get this right.