Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold On the Senate Immigration Reform Bill   May 26, 2006 I voted in favor of the Senate’s comprehensive immigration reform legislation because I believe this bill, while far from perfect, moves us in the right direction with a sensible solution to a very difficult problem. I agree with the bill’s main sponsors and the President that a comprehensive, pragmatic approach is needed to secure our borders while also meaningfully addressing the fact that there are 11 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country. This bill will allow many of those who are currently here illegally to earn legal status if they pay significant fines, learn English, hold down a job, and pass background checks. This is not amnesty. It is a reasonable and fair solution. The bill also institutes a guest worker program that will allow American businesses to hire foreign workers only when they cannot fill jobs with American workers, and that is subject to strong labor protections. While the Senate bill is a good start, we still have a long way to go. The House bill is nothing short of a disaster. The House bill’s enforcement-only approach is divisive and unrealistic. The President’s leadership, and a willingness of House leaders to work with the Senate, will be crucial to retaining the important reforms in the Senate bill during the conference process. We have reached a defining moment in a debate that touches the lives of millions of Americans in every part of the country, from the Mexican border to northern states like my home state of Wisconsin. I am proud to have cast my vote in favor of this bipartisan legislation.

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