The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“Immigration (Executive Session)” mentioning John Kennedy was published in the Senate section on page S219 on Feb. 2.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
Immigration
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I want to talk about two topics today. The first topic I want to address is the issue of immigration. My good friend Senator Durbin is very articulate--he is almost an expert on this issue--and I appreciate his comments. I want to just give you my perspective on immigration because it is so important. Yet this is not why I came down here today.
I love legal immigration. I think most Americans do. Louisianans love legal immigration, and I say that with great confidence because, every year, the American people invite over a million of our world's neighbors to become American citizens in a legal manner. We are very welcoming in this country. We invite more people to become citizens in America than any other country in the world, and I am flattered that people want to come here. I mean, other than someone living in North Korea, when is the last time you heard of somebody trying to sneak into China? People want to come to America, and I am so proud of that fact.
I don't believe in illegal immigration. Some of my colleagues--not the Chair and Senator Durbin--think that vetting people at the border is racist. I don't. I think it is prudent. Every country does it. We respect the rule of law in this country, and illegal immigration is illegal. Duh. I mean, if you don't like the immigration laws, one should change them. In the meantime, we have to follow the law. I am not real crazy about traffic cameras. I think, in many cases, they are designed to just raise money, but I obey them, and when I get fined, I pay the fine. It doesn't happen often now, but I do it.
Look, this country needs an immigration system that looks like somebody designed it on purpose. It does. I think the American people deserve that. I would love to work with Senator Durbin. I am not real interested in nibbling around the edges. I am not real interested in piecemealing. I am not real interested in some sort of widespread amnesty. I think we ought to sit down. We all ought to take our meds and sit down as adults and Senators in good faith, as all Senators are, and try to tackle this problem in a global way.
I just wanted to make it clear--this is speaking for me, personally, and I have learned a lot from listening to Senator Durbin as I always do--I am a steadfast believer in legal immigration, but I adamantly oppose illegal immigration. I think it is dangerous. I think it is unfair, especially to those people across the world who have waited in line patiently and followed the immigration laws of our country.
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