1/3 James Work Writes on Immigration and Speaks about Jesus Christ. See below.
James Work, Katy, Texas
Political Statement  		2/3

Welcome to my site,
Below are some of my published thoughts on Immigration.
If you agree or disagree please write to me.
James Work. 
1139 Rennie Drive
 Katy, Texas 77450-3029 Katy, TX
 Important words found on this site include: Jim Work, Arlene,  Immigration, Political Statement, Houston, TX  Laws, Legal Jesus Christ, God, Prayer, Love,  Marriage, Family, Happiness
Contact information for this Website:
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Webpage Marketing Consultant 
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713-467-3025  Fax 713-467-3192
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 You can find this site again  by typing in the  Google search engine  the unique word " 1kroWsemaJ "  which is  OR "JamesWork1 " backwards.
 Word Count 13,102   MSW

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You are at: http://www.ChangingIdeas.com/James-Work/Political-Statement.html    08/26/2009 03:15 PM -0500 Bookmark this page now!

1

JAMES WORK
 1139 Rennie Drive
 Katy, Texas 77450

 May 23, 2006

 Senator George Voinovich

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

 Dear Senator:

 Subject: Senate Bill S-2611, Amendment 3985 (Sen, Ensign)

 I have trouble comprehending why you and 10 other Republicans would have voted to table Senator Ensign’s COMMON SENSE Amendment 3985 , unless you mistakenly think that when hordes of illegals get full citizenship under a future Democratic administration and Congress, those people will vote for you for the Senate or the Presidency. 

 Senator McCain’s argument that “they” paid the SS tax (via withholding) is PHONEY!

They are here illegally.  They BROKE THE LAW to enter the USA and they STOLE or bought STOLEN Social Security cards in order to get hired.  They should not be rewarded for at least two ILLEGAL acts but should be sent back to their point of origin to GET IN LINE for legal readmission.

If the Republican Party is TO RETAIN THE SENATE AND HOUSE, after Novemberyou MAVERICK Republicans need to return to RONALD REGAN CONSERVATIVE  PRINCIPLES and stop condoning things and actions that are clearly wrong and illegal. 

Some of the Senators including McCain, Spector, and from the other side of the aisle, Kennedy, Leahy, Levin, Schumer, and Clinton  need to STOP acting like THEY THINK THEY ARE GODS.        In my opinion, they and others are “leading our country to Hell in a handbasket”.  

 Consider the quote from a history professor, Dr. Alexani Tytler of the University of Edinburgh in 1790.  In the 1964 Goldwater vs Johnson election campaign, we North Carolina Republicans passed out 3"x5" cards with the quote as follows:

“A Democracy can not exist as a permanent form of government.  It can only exist  until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury.  From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits from that public treasury, with the result that a democracy will always collapse from a loose fiscal policy (burden of large public debt), always to be followed by a dictatorship.”                                                                        1

The Goldwater card also stated,  “What are you doing to prevent Dr. Tyler’s frightening prediction from becoming a reality?  How precious is your freedom to you?” 

It seems that we may be getting perilously close to the point that Dr. Tytler described with so many people clamoring for “ME FIRST, To Hell with the consequences”, and  many of the POLITICIANS are willing to help by BUYING VOTES to insure their REELECTION.

 Please consider the following quote from   Chapter 7 of Second Chronicles, verse 14     

( II Chronicles 7:14) “If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;  then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

 We are IN DANGER OF LOSING BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS in November and thereby speeding the decline of the U.S. of A  if you Republican politicians lose the conservative Republican base and the support of the  huge number of other conservative voters.

 Yours truly

 James Work, Lt. Col. USAR Ret.

 (A Republican since 1936 when my elementary school classmates heckled  me for wearing an

“Alf. Landon for President” button in  then solidly democratic Virginia.)  

                     NOTE: A copy of this same letter addressed to each of the 11 defecting Republicans

                                 was mailed to each on 05-24–06.

Sam Brownback
Lincoln Chafee
Mike DeWine
Lindsey Graham
Chuck Hagel
Richard Lugar
Mel Martinez
John McCain
Arlen Spector
Ted Stevens
George Voinovich
A copy was also sent to Speaker Bill Frist with a cover letter. 
            2
 JAMES WORK
 1139 Rennie Drive
 Katy, Texas 77450

                                                          May 23, 2006

 Senator Bill Frist, Speaker of the Senate

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mr. Speaker:

 Subject: Retaining the Senate and House

 I was grossly disappointed in the defection of eleven Republicans to “the other side” of the aisle, in voting to table Senator Ensign’s Amdt. 3985 (vote 130) on the 18th of May.  Please read a copy of my attached letter of May 23rd which I sent to each of the 11 Senators.  And do what you can, as Speaker to keep the wayward Republicans in line and to PRESERVE our MAJORITY in both houses of Congress..   Thank you.

 Yours truly

 James Work, Lt. Col. USAR Ret.

 

JAMES WORK
1139 Rennie Drive
 Katy, Texas 77450

                                                            May 30, 2006

 Speaker Danny  Hastert

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

 Dear Speaker Hastert:

 Subject: Immigration Bill

 It is very important to me that the Congress of the United States DOES NOT PASS an immigration bill that incorporates the many OBNOXIOUS PROVISIONS of the Senate version.

I hope that you and the House  members of the conference committee will “HANG  TOUGH” and insist on the version passed by the House of Representatives. 

 I realize that compromise is an important  part of politics but you/we must not give away our country to foreigners.  It is BETTER TO see a  comprehensive immigration BILL DIE IN CONFERENCE and then convince the Senate to pass the House version dealing with border security FIRST and then tackle the other issues.

 If enough of our citizens communicate our desires on this issue with Mr. Bush, I hope he will reconsider his previously stated position regarding wanting a comprehensive bill now.  My letter to him on this subject will go out today. 

Yours truly 

James Work, Lt. Col. USAR, Ret.

(A Republican since the Alfred Landon vs F.D.R . campaign in 1936)

 Copy: Rep. Michael T. McCaul

JAMES WORK
1139 Rennie Drive
 Katy, Texas 77450

                                                           May 29, 2006     The President                                                                

The White House                                                          

Washington, D.C. 20500 

Dear Mr. President: 

Subject: The Immigration Bill

 Now that the Senate has passed its version of an Immigration Bill, which I think is grossly flawed, containing many provisions which I think, IF enacted into law, would hasten the Democrats regaining both houses of Congress and the Presidency for years to come, as well as ACCELERATING OUR NATIONS BEING CARRIED TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET.

 The House version of the bill needs to be enacted NOW and then some of the other considerations can be made, but ONLY AFTER we SECURE THE BORDERS and our government ENFORCES CURRENT LAWS regarding persons here illegally.

 You, the members of Congress and all of our citizens need to carefully consider the 3"x5" card that we North Carolina Republicans passed out in the 1964 Goldwater/Johnson campaign.  It is reproduced below.

                    (75% reduced sized copy of Goldwater casmpaign 3"x5" card

                     With Dr. Alexani Tytler’s quote)

 The Senate’s version of the Immigration Bill will speed the fulfilling of the professor’s warning.

We still pray for you and your family every day and for great wisdom for you.

 Yours truly

 James Work, Lt. Col., USAR, Ret.  

 

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2 

JAMES WORK
1139 Rennie Drive
 Katy, Texas 77450

                                                      August 28, 2006

 Senator K. Bailey Hutchinson

U.S. Senate

Washington, DC 20510-4304

 Dear Senator Hutchinson:

 Subject: Immigration Reform/Control:

 I was disappointed in reading the column in the July 26 Washington Times by you and Representative Mike Pence wherein you propose a MUCH TOO BROAD program to (1) admit too many immigrants (particularly unskilled ones), (2) permit them to bring families, (3) stay too long, (4) NOT require a foolproof (or nearly so) identification system based on isometrics (eye scans and fingerprints) and (5) you do not require a  foolproof cross referencing system for employers with Social Security FRAUD PREVENTION capabilities.

 I thought that Senator Jeff Sessions column in the Washington Times on August 2, 2006 was well stated and I recommend that you and Mr. Pence rework your proposal to fall in line with his proposal.  No doubt you have read it, but , for your convenience, I am enclosing a copy with the more important points highlighted.

 Please reconsider your positions on these matters.  I understand that with so many TEXANS having a Mexican and Central American connection, you HAVE TO BE VERY BRAVE to not JUST LET THEM ALL IN.  If this happens with a weak-kneed Congress, you can kiss our USA goodby.  GENERAL SANTA ANA WILL HAVE WON POSTHUMOUSLY!   The RECONQUISTA will be complete and the CHARACTER and SOUL of our country will be destroyed.. 

 Border control MUST be passed first.  Then tackle these other issues.

 Thank you.

 Yours truly 

James Work                                               

Lt. Col. USAR, Ret. 

Copy: Sen John Cornyn,                         Sen Jeff Sessions


                                                 JAMES WORK

                                              1139 Rennie Drive

                                         Katy, Texas 77450-3029

                                                  August 28, 2006

 Senator John Cornyn

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

 Dear Senator Cornyn:

 Subject: Immigration Bill   S-2611

  First, let me thank you for representing us Texas citizens in the Congress and for standing up for conservative values and especially for your work on the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the successful confirmation of our two new Supreme Court justices.  (I would have found it very difficult to deal with Senators Spector, Leahy, and Kennedy when they act like they think they are GODS.)

 I am very concerned about the Immigration Bill that the Senate passed and which will soon be considered by the Senate-House Reconciliation Committee.  I think that the first priority must be to CONTROL THE  BORDERS and then work on the other problems with illegals.  It would be better to have NO BILL THIS YEAR than to pass either the S-2611 OR the proposed PENCE-HUTCHINSON   bill .  

 Both of these bills (1) would admit too many immigrants (particularly unskilled ones), (2) permit them to bring families, (3) stay too long, (4) NOT require a FOOLPROOF (or nearly so) identification system based on isometrics (eye scans and fingerprints), and (5) do not require a foolproof cross referencing system for employers with Social Security FRAUD  PREVENTION capabilities. 

 I understand that with so many TEXANS having a Mexican or Central American connection, you HAVE TO BE VERY BRAVE to not JUST LET THEM ALL IN.  If this happens with a weak-kneed Congress, you can kiss our USA goodby.  GENERAL SANTA ANA WILL HAVE WON  POSTHUMOUSLY!   The RECONQUISTA will be complete and the CHARACTER and SOUL of our country will be destroyed.

 Border control MUST be passed first.  Then tackle the other issues.    Thank you.

 Yours truly                                                                                         

                                                                                                    Enc. Copy of my letter of

James Work,   Lt. Col., USAR Ret.                                           08-28-06 to Sen Hutchinson

 
Immigration Battle in the Senate
See all finished votes at bottom of page
CLICK HERE to see Amnesties in S. 2611, the Senate Immigration Bill

NEXT STEPS: (JUNE 30, 2006) House Republicans announced on June 22 that they will hold hearings on the Senate-passed bill (S. 2611) before reconciling differences between the two chambers’ bills in a conference committee with the Senate. The goal, in part, is to highlight provisions of S. 2611 that a majority of House Republicans find unacceptable. The hearings will be held in July and August in various cities around the country. The call for hearings will delay action on a bill until at least September. Congress also could put off action until after the election in a lame duck session.

Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), the Chairman of the International Relations Terrorism Subcommittee, will hold hearings on border vulnerabilities on July 5 in San Diego, California and on July 7 in Laredo, Texas. Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman Howard McKeon (R-CA) will hold hearings in mid-July on how workplace immigration enforcement affects U.S. workers and on making English the official language of the United States. Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) will hold hearings in Yuma, Arizona in mid-August to hear the perspectives of Border Patrol agents and the National Guard. Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis (R-VA) will hold a hearing during the week of August 14 in Arizona on the costs of illegal immigration to state and local governments. Hearings also will be scheduled by Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King (R-NY), and Administration Committee Chairman Vernon Ehlers (R-MI).

CLICK HERE to find out what you haven't heard about S. 2611

In a provocative move, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) called for additional Senate-based hearings beginning on July 5 in Philadelphia to look at the need for more foreign “guestworkers.” However, a Capitol Hill newspaper called Roll Call quoted one Senate Republican staff person who characterized Specter’s move this way: “If the House is going to have hearings on how bad amnesty is, then I’m going to have hearings on how good amnesty is.”

Before a conference committee can begin over the immigration measures passed by both chambers, a problem must be resolved regarding some unconstitutional provisions contained in the Senate-passed measure. The offending provisions in S. 2611 are tax measures which, under the Constitution, must originate in a bill passed the House. On June 13, House Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) said he would object to convening a House-Senate conference if the Senate does not find an alternate vehicle for its version of the legislation. The objection would come in the form of a “blue slip” - a congressional precedent under which Rep. Thomas would offer a resolution to return the bill to the Senate. On June 29, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) agreed to use a House-passed bill concerning the alternative minimum tax (H.R. 4096) as a vehicle in order to get around the constitutional problem. Under the plan, which could be put to a vote some time in July, the Senate would take up H.R. 4096, gut its contents, insert S. 2611, pass it, and wait again for conferees to be appointed. If House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) agrees to a conference committee with the Senate, one will be held.

Conference committee members are normally appointed by the respective leadership of both chambers. On May 11, Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) outlined an agreement on the selection of a potential conference committee with the House. The Senate portion of the conference committee would include 26 members - an unusually large number – including 14 Republicans and 12 Democrats. The seven senior Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee (Chair Arlen Specter [R-PA], Orrin Hatch [R-UT], Charles Grassley [R-IA], Jon Kyl [R-AZ], Mike DeWine [R-OH], Jeff Sessions [R-AL], and Lindsey Graham [R-SC]) and the five senior Democrats (Sens. Patrick Leahy [D-VT], Ted Kennedy [D-MA], Joseph Biden [D-DE], Herbert Kohl [D-WI], and Diane Feinstein [D-CA]) would be members of the conference committee. The rest of the conferees would be selected individually by Frist and Reid.

Negotiations in a conference committee are typically conducted behind closed doors by staff members associated with committee members. The actual committee members usually meet, again in private proceedings, only after staff has made substantial progress in drafting an agreement. If a majority of the members reach an agreement, a conference committee report will be produced and voted on in both chambers. The contents of conference committee reports are typically not revealed to the public until just before a vote in both chambers.

CLICK HERE
for a Comparison of House and Senate Immigration Reform Proposals

Earlier in June, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) said that he would like to see as many public conferences as possible. If the conferees agree to his wishes,
the process may be more open than normal.

STATUS: On May 25, the Senate concluded work on S. 2611, the “compromise” amnesty bill, by passing it by a 62-36 vote. If the bill becomes law in its current form, it would create the largest immigration increase in U.S. history – a disaster for American workers and taxpayers. S. 2611 would increase legal immigration by 60 million people over the next 20 years and grant amnesty to an estimated eight to 10 million illegal aliens. The Senate passed the bill despite recent polling indicating that Americans oppose amnesty and want legal immigration numbers reduced.

Before passing S. 2611, the Senate voted on six final amendments. An unsuccessful amendment by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX, SA 4097) would have affected the confidentiality of information from DREAM Act-related amnesty applicants in cases where an application was denied and appeals were exhausted. Sen. Jeff Bingaman’s (D-NM) successful amendment (SA 4131) would cap the number of employment-based visas for workers, spouses and children at 650,000. Another successful amendment, SA 4083 (sponsored by Sen. Russ Feingold [D-WI]), deletes a provision in the bill that would have prohibited courts from staying removal of any alien except in certain cases. Sen. Jeff Sessions’ (R-AL) unsuccessful amendment (SA 4108) would have prevented illegal aliens, whether granted amnesty or not, from being rewarded for their illegal activity by way of a tax credit. A similarly-fated amendment, SA 4136 (sponsored by Sen. John Ensign [R-NV]), would have prevented illegal aliens granted amnesty from being rewarded for their prior illegal activity by way of a tax credit for tax years before 2006. Finally, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) was able to push through a manager’s amendment (SA 4188), which included 115 pages of additional revisions from a number of agreed-to amendments, although no public notice was provided as to which amendments were included.

On May 24, the Senate overrode the wishes of the majority of Americans through two procedural and highly political moves. First, the Senate voted to invoke cloture, which limits debate on the bill (i.e., no more than 30 hours) in preparation for final passage, and limits further amendments to ones that are germane and agreed to in advance. Had 40 Senators voted to reject cloture, the bill would have, effectively, been stopped. Subsequently, the Senate rejected a budget point of order raised by Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO), which, if accepted, would have slowed progress on passage of this amnesty-guestworker "compromise" proposal. Beyond these actions, the Senate voted on eight other amendments, with five of them being adopted. A successful amendment by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV, SA 4127) requires aliens to pay DHS an additional $500 fee before receiving that amnesty or “guestworker” status. An amendment by Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH, SA 4114) was endorsed that reallocates visas made available through the Visa Lottery to allow more "high-skill" workers in through that program. An amendment by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA, SA 4025), which was adopted by voice vote, encourages adoption of children from other countries by U.S. citizens and creates a new nonimmigrant classification for an adoptable child. Also adopted by voice vote were: (1) an amendment by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA, SA 4144), which requires employers who seek to hire H-2C "guestworkers" to meet specified notification and posting requirements to recruit U.S. workers for the position for which the H-2C "guestworker" is sought; and (2) an amendment by Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT, SA 4124), which requires the Census Bureau to report to Congress on how to ensure that illegal aliens are not counted for purposes of House seat apportionment. An amendment offered by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX, SA 4101, which would have established a SAFE "guestworker" visa for citizens of CAFTA-DR and NAFTA nations, was rejected, as was – by a narrow margin (48 for and 49 against) – a proposal by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND, SA 4095), which would have sunsetted the H-2C "guestworker" program after five years. Senators voted to table an amendment by Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA, SA 4084), which would have restricted aliens' access to the proposed "blue card" agricultural "guestworker" program.

On May 23, the Senate voted down an amendment by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA; SA 4087) that would have replaced the bill's "earned legalization" amnesty and Deferred Mandatory Departure provisions with a one-tiered scheme in which all aliens illegally present in the United States on or before January 1, 2006, are granted amnesty and an "orange card" (instead of the normal "green card") if they are otherwise admissible. That amendment would have added 2 million illegal aliens to the amnesty already contained in the bill. Members succeeded in tabling an amendment (SA 4117) by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) that would have opened up a dangerous loophole for terrorists to enter the United States. An amendment (SA 4177) by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) passed which revised the bill’s mandatory employment verification provisions. The Senate also tabled two other amendments. Sen. Ted Kennedy’s amendment (D-MA; SA 4106) would have affected employer sanctions and enforcement under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Sen. Richard Durbin’s amendment (D-IL; SA 4142) would have provided another waiver from the removal process for family hardship.

On May 22, members voted to table an amendment sponsored by Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA; SA 4009) that would have required an employer applying to hire H-2A workers, or utilizing "blue card" status temporary agricultural workers, to pay the greater of the local prevailing wage for that occupation or the minimum wage. The Senate endorsed an amendment by Sen. John Ensign (R-NV; SA 4076) that would authorize border state governors to have their National Guard troops train annually on the border, although the troops would not directly participate in the apprehension of illegal aliens.

The Senate adjourned on Friday, May 19, after briefly debating S. 2611, the "compromise" amnesty bill. No votes were held. On Thursday, May 18, the Senate adjourned after voting on ten amendments to S. 2611, the "compromise" amnesty bill. The Senate passed an amendment by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA; SA 4066) that retracts provisions of a positive amendment (SA 3965) passed the night before. SA 4066 removes a provision requiring Federal certification of an employer's need to import foreign workers. An amendment by Sen. Ensign (SA 3985) would have cut off access to Social Security benefits for most illegal aliens, but the amendment was tabled. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HA; SA 4029) succeeded in passing an amendment that exempts children of naturalized Filipino World War II veterans from numerical limits. An amendment (SA 3964) by Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) was adopted that would remove the ability of illegal aliens to prove their employment history through reasonable inference. This would greatly reduce the potential for fraud. An amendment (SA 4064) by Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) would have made English the official language of the United States. Although the amendment passed, it was displaced by a subsequent amendment by Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO; SA 4073) that was more symbolic than substantive in nature. SA 4072, sponsored by Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), would have used funds targeted for administration of the amnesty and temporary worker programs to reimburse state and local governments for the costs of incarcerating criminal aliens as well as for health care and educational services related to non-citizens. That amendment failed but a related one (SA 4038) by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) passed that would impose fees on amnestied aliens to fund health care and educational services for non-citizens. The Senate tabled SA 3969, an amendment by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), which would have removed the automatic path to citizenship for “guestworkers.” Members concluded the day by passing an amendment (SA 3998) by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) that would increase detention space for apprehended illegal aliens.

May 16 was the first full day of debate on floor amendments to S. 2611. An unsuccessful amendment offered by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) would have prohibited the implementation of any guestworker or amnesty scheme until DHS could certify that necessary border security measures and increases in Federal detention space were fully operational. A somewhat similar but much weaker amendment by Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) was adopted. It would authorize the President to trigger implementation of guestworker and amnesty provisions by certifying that such programs would strengthen national security. The most contentious discussion of the day surrounded Sen. Byron Dorgan's (D-ND) proposal to strike the controversial guestworker provisions from the bill, which after lengthy debate, was tabled permanently. Sen. Jeff Bingaman's (D-NM) amendment capping the number of new guestworkers at 200,000 per year was agreed to by voice vote after an attempt was made to table it. This removed the most out-of-control part of the bill, but still would lead to more than 60 million immigrants over the next 20 years. The Senate also adopted an amendment by Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) to add 1,000 Border Patrol agents.

CLICK HERE
to see the Heritage Foundation report

A study released May 15 by the Heritage Foundation's Robert Rector estimates that S. 2611 will allow 103 million persons to immigrate legally to the United States over the next twenty years, fully one-third of the current population, and cause increased government spending of at least $46 billion per year. Mr. Rector subsequently revised his analysis after passage of an amendment by Sen. Jim Bingaman (D-NM) capped the “guestworker” program at 200,000 per year. He now estimates that S. 2611 will allow 60 million persons to immigrate legally to the United States over the next twenty years. (CLICK HERE to see the revised analysis.)  From  http://www.numbersusa.com/hottopic/2454.html

 
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress - 2nd Session

as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate

Vote Summary

Question: On the Motion to Table (Motion to Table Ensign Amdt. No. 3985 )
Vote Number: 130 Vote Date: May 18, 2006, 12:50 PM
Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Motion to Table Agreed to
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 3985 to S. 2611 (Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 )
Statement of Purpose: To reduce document fraud, prevent identity theft, and preserve the integrity of the Social Security system, by ensuring that persons who receive an adjustment of status under this bill are not able to receive Social Security benefits as a result of unlawful activity.
Vote Counts: YEAs 50
  NAYs 49
  Not Voting 1
Vote Summary By Senator Name By Vote Position By Home State

Alphabetical by Senator Name

Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Alexander (R-TN), Nay
Allard (R-CO), Nay
Allen (R-VA), Nay
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Bennett (R-UT), Nay
Biden (D-DE), Yea
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Bond (R-MO), Nay
Boxer (D-CA), Yea
Brownback (R-KS), Yea
Bunning (R-KY), Nay
Burns (R-MT), Nay
Burr (R-NC), Nay
Byrd (D-WV), Nay
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Chafee (R-RI), Yea
Chambliss (R-GA), Nay
Clinton (D-NY), Yea
Coburn (R-OK), Nay
Cochran (R-MS), Nay
Coleman (R-MN), Nay
Collins (R-ME), Nay
Conrad (D-ND), Nay
Cornyn (R-TX), Nay
Craig (R-ID), Nay
Crapo (R-ID), Nay
Dayton (D-MN), Nay
DeMint (R-SC), Nay
DeWine (R-OH), Yea
Dodd (D-CT), Yea
Dole (R-NC), Nay
 		 Domenici (R-NM), Nay
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Durbin (D-IL), Yea
Ensign (R-NV), Nay
Enzi (R-WY), Nay
Feingold (D-WI), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Frist (R-TN), Nay
Graham (R-SC), Yea
Grassley (R-IA), Nay
Gregg (R-NH), Nay
Hagel (R-NE), Yea
Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Hatch (R-UT), Nay
Hutchison (R-TX), Nay
Inhofe (R-OK), Nay
Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Jeffords (I-VT), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kennedy (D-MA), Yea
Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Kyl (R-AZ), Nay
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Lott (R-MS), Nay
Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Martinez (R-FL), Yea
McCain (R-AZ), Yea
 		 McConnell (R-KY), Nay
Menendez (D-NJ), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Murkowski (R-AK), Nay
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Nay
Nelson (D-NE), Nay
Obama (D-IL), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
Roberts (R-KS), Nay
Rockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting
Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Santorum (R-PA), Nay
Sarbanes (D-MD), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Sessions (R-AL), Nay
Shelby (R-AL), Nay
Smith (R-OR), Nay
Snowe (R-ME), Nay
Specter (R-PA), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Sununu (R-NH), Nay
Talent (R-MO), Nay
Thomas (R-WY), Nay
Thune (R-SD), Nay
Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Warner (R-VA), Nay
Wyden (D-OR), Yea
 
Vote Summary By Senator Name By Vote Position By Home State

Grouped By Vote Position

YEAs ---50
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brownback (R-KS)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI)
Clinton (D-NY)
DeWine (R-OH)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
 		 Graham (R-SC)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
 		 McCain (R-AZ)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Stevens (R-AK)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Wyden (D-OR)
 
NAYs ---49
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Allen (R-VA)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burns (R-MT)
Burr (R-NC)
Byrd (D-WV)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
 		 Crapo (R-ID)
Dayton (D-MN)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Frist (R-TN)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lott (R-MS)
McConnell (R-KY)
 		 Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Roberts (R-KS)
Santorum (R-PA)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Sununu (R-NH)
Talent (R-MO)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Warner (R-VA)
 
Not Voting - 1
Rockefeller (D-WV)
 		  
Vote Summary By Senator Name By Vote Position By Home State

 

Grouped by Home State

Alabama: Sessions (R-AL), Nay Shelby (R-AL), Nay
Alaska: Murkowski (R-AK), Nay Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Arizona: Kyl (R-AZ), Nay McCain (R-AZ), Yea
Arkansas: Lincoln (D-AR), Yea Pryor (D-AR), Yea
California: Boxer (D-CA), Yea Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Colorado: Allard (R-CO), Nay Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Connecticut: Dodd (D-CT), Yea Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Delaware: Biden (D-DE), Yea Carper (D-DE), Yea
Florida: Martinez (R-FL), Yea Nelson (D-FL), Nay
Georgia: Chambliss (R-GA), Nay Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Hawaii: Akaka (D-HI), Yea Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Idaho: Craig (R-ID), Nay Crapo (R-ID), Nay
Illinois: Durbin (D-IL), Yea Obama (D-IL), Yea
Indiana: Bayh (D-IN), Yea Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Iowa: Grassley (R-IA), Nay Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Kansas: Brownback (R-KS), Yea Roberts (R-KS), Nay
Kentucky: Bunning (R-KY), Nay McConnell (R-KY), Nay
Louisiana: Landrieu (D-LA), Yea Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Maine: Collins (R-ME), Nay Snowe (R-ME), Nay
Maryland: Mikulski (D-MD), Yea Sarbanes (D-MD), Yea
Massachusetts: Kennedy (D-MA), Yea Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Michigan: Levin (D-MI), Yea Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Minnesota: Coleman (R-MN), Nay Dayton (D-MN), Nay
Mississippi: Cochran (R-MS), Nay Lott (R-MS), Nay
Missouri: Bond (R-MO), Nay Talent (R-MO), Nay
Montana: Baucus (D-MT), Yea Burns (R-MT), Nay
Nebraska: Hagel (R-NE), Yea Nelson (D-NE), Nay
Nevada: Ensign (R-NV), Nay Reid (D-NV), Yea
New Hampshire: Gregg (R-NH), Nay Sununu (R-NH), Nay
New Jersey: Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea Menendez (D-NJ), Yea
New Mexico: Bingaman (D-NM), Yea Domenici (R-NM), Nay
New York: Clinton (D-NY), Yea Schumer (D-NY), Yea
North Carolina: Burr (R-NC), Nay Dole (R-NC), Nay
North Dakota: Conrad (D-ND), Nay Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Ohio: DeWine (R-OH), Yea Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Oklahoma: Coburn (R-OK), Nay Inhofe (R-OK), Nay
Oregon: Smith (R-OR), Nay Wyden (D-OR), Yea
Pennsylvania: Santorum (R-PA), Nay Specter (R-PA), Yea
Rhode Island: Chafee (R-RI), Yea Reed (D-RI), Yea
South Carolina: DeMint (R-SC), Nay Graham (R-SC), Yea
South Dakota: Johnson (D-SD), Yea Thune (R-SD), Nay
Tennessee: Alexander (R-TN), Nay Frist (R-TN), Nay
Texas: Cornyn (R-TX), Nay Hutchison (R-TX), Nay
Utah: Bennett (R-UT), Nay Hatch (R-UT), Nay
Vermont: Jeffords (I-VT), Yea Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Virginia: Allen (R-VA), Nay Warner (R-VA), Nay
Washington: Cantwell (D-WA), Yea Murray (D-WA), Yea
West Virginia: Byrd (D-WV), Nay Rockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting
Wisconsin: Feingold (D-WI), Yea Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Wyoming: Enzi (R-WY), Nay Thomas (R-WY), Nay
Vote Summary By Senator Name By Vote Position By Home State
This document is a record and analysis of all of Sen. Ensign's immigration related congressional votes, cosponsorships, and other immigration actions during his career in Congress. Immigration Profiles is the only exhaustive source for this information available in one place.
(If you are reading this on paper, note the "Last Updated" date above. Consult the website www.NumbersUSA.com for any new or changed information, which occurs often.)

Fax Congressabout its immigration voting record
View Report Card of Sen. Ensign's Immigration Actions
Career Record Source: Congressional Record
Leans toward less immigration, less population growth, less foreign labor.
Each symbol in the left-hand column below signifies an action for HIGHER immigration.
Voting Key
Each symbol in the right-hand column below signifies an action for LOWER immigration.

Chain Migration & Visa Lottery
Voted in 1996 to continue chain migration
Rep. Ensign in 1996 voted for the Chrysler-Berman Amendment to H.R.2202. It was a vote in favor of a chain migration system that has been the primary cause of annual immigration levels snowballing from less than 300,000 in 1965 to around a million today. Rep. Ensign supported provisions that allow immigrants to send for their adult relatives. Then each of those relatives can send for their and their spouse's adult relatives, creating a never-ending and ever-growing chain. The bi-partisan Barbara Jordan Commission recommended doing away with the adult-relative categories and chain migration (begun only in the 1950s) in order to lessen wage depression among lower-paid American workers. The House Judiciary Committee agreed with the Jordan Commission and passed H.R.2202, which would have effectively ended chain migration. But on the floor of the House, Rep. Ensign helped kill the reform by voting for the Chrysler-Berman Amendment which stripped out the legal immigration reforms. Rep. Ensign’s vote was important; the reformers were only 28 votes short of approving the end of chain migration. Rep. Ensign helped continue a level of immigration that the Census Bureau projects will result in a doubled U.S. population in the next century. The Chrysler-Berman amendment passed the House by a vote of 238-183.

 

Major Numbers in All Categories
Voted on Senate floor against amendment to kill border fence in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted against the Manager's Amendment (SA 4188), offered by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Manager's Amendment made many minor changes to S. 2611, none of have significant numeric impacts on the overall bill. However, the Manager's Amendment included a provision that requires consultation with the government of Mexico concerning the construction of additional fencing and related border security structures along the international border between the United States and Mexico. This would virtually guarantee that the fence along the U.S.-Mexico border would never be completed. The Manager's Amendment passed by a vote of 56 to 41 to 1 (the 1 denotes a "present" vote).
 
Voted against bill to increase immigration and grant amnesty to illegal aliens in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted against final passage of S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. S. 2611 would dramatically change most occupations and communities in America with the largest movement of foreign workers in world history. Specifically, S. 2611 would: reward approximately 10.2 million illegal aliens with an amnesty allowing them to permanently take American jobs and become U.S. citizens; entice millions more foreign workers to illegally enter our communities, crowd the housing and schools, take the jobs and depress the wages because they reasonably can believe they eventually will be given an amnesty, too; double legal immigration from 1 million to 2 million a year; give out permanent green cards to up to 66 million foreign workers and dependents over the next 20 years. The main difference in terms of numbers between the final version of S. 2611 and the version of the bill when the cloture motion was invoked was that the Bingaman Amendment to cap the number of employment-based visas for workers, spouses and children at 650,000 was adopted after cloture but before final passage. Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation estimates that the Bingaman Amendment would reduce employment-based visas available under S. 2611 by about 150,000 a year. S. 2611 passed by a vote of 62 to 36.
 
Voted against motion to invoke cloture on S. 2611 to increase overall immigration numbers and reward illegal aliens with amnesty in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted against a motion to invoke cloture on S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The motion to invoke cloture was a procedural move to ends debate on S. 2611. If the motion had been rejected by at least 40 Senators, Majority Leader Bill Frist, MD (R-TN) would have had to choose between continued debate on S. 2611 and moving on to other legislative business. If the motion had failed, Sen. Frist was expected to move on to other legislative business, thus effectively killing the bill. S. 2611 provides an indirect path to citizenship for illegal aliens. S. 2611 also provides for major increases in temporary worker visas and permanent immigrant visas. It provides for at least an additional 100,000 H-1B visas annually; an additional 325,000 new guestworker visas (H-5A/H-2C visas); a one-time-only permanent increase of 310,660. In addition, the S. 2611 includes amnesty for an estimated 10.2 million illegal aliens (about 6.7 million illegal alien workers and 3.5 million illegal alien spouses and/or children). The cloture motion passed by a vote of 73 to 25.
 
Voted against motion to invoke cloture on bill to increase overall immigration numbers and reward illegal aliens with amnesty in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted against a motion to invoke cloture on SA 3424, a "compromise amnesty" proposal by Sens. Hagel (R-NE) and Martinez (R-FL). The purpose of voting against allowing a final vote on this proposal varied from Senator to Senator, with many of them favoring the proposal but not willing to bring it up without a lot of votes on amendments. At the least, those voting against cloture were insisting on a chance for opponents of the bill to make their case with amendments. The Hagel-Martinez proposal was put forth as an alternative to the Senate Judiciary Committee-passed amnesty proposal. The Hagel-Martinez proposal differs from the Judiciary Committee proposal in that it provides an indirect path to citizenship for illegal aliens as opposed to the direct path outlined in the Judiciary Committee proposal. It only allows illegal aliens who have been in the country for more than 5 years to stay in the United States and adjust to legal status. Those who have been here less than 5 years but more than two years would be required to exit the country and return through the a land port of entry with a visa. Over time, qualified individuals would have the chance to become citizens. The Hagel-Martinez compromise also provides for major increases in temporary worker visas and permanent immigrant visas. It provides for at least an additional 100,000 H-1B visas annually; an additional 325,000 new guestworker visas (H-5A/H-2C visas); a one-time-only permanent increase of 310,660; and a total annual increase in permanent immigrant visas of at least 1,154,700. In addition, the Hagel-Martinez compromise includes amnesty for an estimated 10.2 million illegal aliens (about 6.7 million illegal alien workers and 3.5 million illegal aliens spouses and/or children). The cloture motion failed by a vote of 38 to 60.
 

Importing Specific Foreign Workers
Voted in favor of amendment to cap employment-based visas in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the Bingaman Amendment (SA 4131) to to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Bingaman Amendment would cap the number of employment-based visas for workers, spouses and children at 650,000. Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation estimates that the Bingaman Amendment would reduce employment-based visas available under S. 2611 by about 150,000 a year. The Bingaman Amendment passed by a vote of 51 to 47.
 
Voted in favor of amendment to limit proposed guestworker program in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the Dorgan Amendment (SA 4095) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Dorgan Amendment would have prohibited the issuance of new H-2C "guestworker" visas after five years, but authorized DHS to continue to extend the authorized stay of an H-2C alien after that date. This would have reduced the number of new guestworkers under S. 2611 from two million to one million (200,000 per year for five years instead of 10 years). The Dorgan Amendment failed by a vote of 48 to 49.
 
Voted in favor of amendment to create additional guestworker visa categories in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the Hutchison Amendment (SA 4101) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Hutchison Amendment would require the State Department to grant a Secure Authorized Foreign Employee (SAFE) visa to a national of a NAFTA or CAFTA nation who meets specified requirements. The "E" visa is already a visa for treaty-trader countries, thus the Hutchison Amendment would have just created more unnecessary "guestworker" categories. The Hutchison Amendment failed by a vote of 31 to 67.

 
Voted against killing amendment to prevent guestworkers from getting greencards in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted against a motion to table the Kyl amdendment (SA 3969) to S. 2611. The Kyl amendment would have removed provisions allowing guestworkers admitted under S. 2611 to adjust status to that of lawful permanent resident on the basis of their status as a guestworker. This would have prevented 200,000 guestworkers a year from gaining greencards, resulting in 2 million less greencards over a decade. The motion to table the Kyl amendment passed by a vote of 58 to 35, effectively killing the amendment.
 
Voted on Senate floor in favor of amendment to postpone guestworker-amnesty program until borders secured in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the Cornyn Amendment (SA 3691, proposed for Sen. Isakson) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . The Cornyn Amendment would prohibit DHS from implementing any guestworker program or granting amnesty as proposed by the bill unless the agency has certified that this bill’s border security measures and increases in Federal detention space have been completed and are fully operational. The Cornyn Amendment failed by a vote of 40-55.
 
Voted on Senate floor to kill amendment to strike guestworker provisions from immigration bill 2006
Sen. Ensign voted for a motion to table the Dorgan Amendment (SA 4017) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . The Dorgan amendment would have stricken the guestworker provisions of the bill that would add an estimated 8.4 million foreign workers and their dependents over the next ten years (according to a May, 2006 study by the Heritage Foundation’s Robert Rector). The motion to table passed by a voted of 68 to 29, effectively killing the Dorgan amendment.
 
Voted on Senate floor against killing amendment to cap guestworker visas in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted against a motion to table the Bingaman Amendment (SA 3981) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . This was a procedural move to terminate further discussion of the amendment. The Bingaman amendment (submitted by Sen. Bingaman for himself and Sen. Feinstein) would cap the number of H-2C visas available annually for issuance at 200,000 and remove the 20% a year increase in annual guestworker visas. This would reduce the 10-year increase in foreign workers and their dependents from 8.4 million, as provided in the original bill, to two million. The motion to table the Bingaman amendment failed by a vote of 18 to 79 and the Bingaman amendment ultimately passed by voice vote.
 
Voted on Senate floor in favor amendment to increase worker protections in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the Cornyn amendment (SA 3965) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . The Cornyn amendment (submitted for himself and Sen. Grassley) would offer modest protections for American workers from being displaced by a foreign worker by prohibiting H-2C visas for employers unless they attest that they will employ an alien in the offered job position and DHS certifies that there are not sufficient U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to fill the position. The Cornyn amendment passed by a vote of 50 to 48.
 
Voted on Senate floor against amendment to weaken worker protections in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted against the Kennedy amendment (SA 4066) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . The Kennedy amendment weakens Sen. Cornyn's amendment (SA 3965) by not requiring Federal certification of the employer's need to import foreign workers. The Kennedy amendment passed by a vote of 56 to 43.
 
Cosponsoring bill to increase foreign-worker importation in 2005-2006
Sen. Ensign is a cosponsor of S. 2109, the National Innovation Act of 2005. S. 2109 would continue the H-1B program that every year imports additional high-tech workers as part of "comprehensive immigration reform." The H-1B program has been shown to harm American workers by depressing wages and displacing workers. As well, S. 2109 suggests that comprehensive reform must include provisions to "eliminate delays in processing immigration proceedings, including employment-based visa applications." This provision would do nothing but encourage the rubberstamping of applications, which is already happening because of the existing "backlog elimination" program and would promote and encourage fraud and corruption.
 
Voted against amendment to strip foreign-worker increase in 2005
Sen. Ensign voted against the Byrd Amendment to S. 1932, the Budget Reconciliation bill. The amendment, introduced by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), would have stripped ALL immigration increases from the Budget Reconciliation bill and replaced the increase with a provision to impose a $1,500 fee on employers who hire certain non-immigrants. The immigration increase was added to the Budget Reconciliation bill by the Senate Judiciary Committee as a result of an 14-2 vote in favor of an amendment introduced by Senator Arlen Specter. The Specter plan would increase permanent, employment-based immigration by nearly tripling the number of foreign workers who can enter the U.S. each year. As well, it exempts workers’ families from the 140,000-visa cap on employment-based immigration. It also raises the cap on employment-based permanent immigration by adding each year the lesser of 90,000 visas or any “unused” employment-based visas from any prior year. Altogether, these provisions could generate a net increase in permanent immigration of 366,000 aliens, or about one-third of current, annual legal immigration. Senator Byrd’s amendment was cosponsored by Sens. Sessions (R-AL) and Durbin (D-IL). It was also supported by the AFL-CIO. The Byrd Amendment failed by a vote of 14 to 85.
 
Voted in favor of amendment to increase foreign-worker importation in 2005
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of S. Amdt. 387, an amendment offered by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), to H.R. 1268, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005. The Mikulski amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act increased the number of H-2Bs who can enter and take jobs in the United States in the next two years and apportioned the H-2B visa cap so that visas will be available throughout the year. Specifically, the Mikulski Amendment would split the H-2B visa cap so no more than 33,000 visas are made available for the first six months the fiscal year, and another 33,000 visas would be available in the second half of the year. HOWEVER, the Mikulski Amendment exempts from the annual cap aliens granted an H-2B visa within three years prior to approval of an H-2B petition, thus potentially TRIPLING the number of H-2B workers in the United States at any one time. Although apportioning H-2B visas is a common-sense approach that will help prevent the situation that occurred in FY 2004 and FY2005 when the 66,000 annual cap on H-2B (low-skill) nonimmigrant visas was hit within the first quarter of the year, the Mikulski Amendment would ultimately harm American workers by creating exemptions which potentially could triple the number of H-2B workers in the U.S. at any given time. Fortunately, however, the increase is limited to two years, and the additional visas can go only to foreign workers who worked in this country legally during the last three years. The Amendment passed by a vote of 94 to 6.
 
Nearly doubled H-1B foreign
high-tech workers in 1998
Rep. Ensign helped the House pass H.R.3736. Enacted into law, it increased by nearly 150,000 the number of foreign workers high-tech American companies could hire over the next three years. Although the foreign workers receive temporary visas for up to six years, most historically have found ways to stay permanently in this country. Rep. Ensign voted for more foreign workers even though U.S. high tech workers over the age of 50 were suffering 17% unemployment and U.S. firms were laying off thousands of workers at the time.
 
Voted in 1998 to allow firms to lay off Americans
to make room for foreign workers
Before the House passed the H-1B doubling bill (H.R.3736), Rep. Ensign had an opportunity to vote for a Watt Substitute bill that would have forbidden U.S. firms from using temporary foreign workers to replace Americans. Rep. Ensign opposed that protection. The substitute also would have required U.S. firms to check a box on a form attesting that they had first sought an American worker for the job. Rep. Ensign voted against that. The protections for American workers fell 33 votes short of passing.
 
Tried to create massive new foreign agriculture
worker program in 1996
Rep. Ensign voted IN FAVOR of the Pombo Amendment to H.R.2202. He was voting for a massive new program that would have allowed agri-business to import up to 250,000 foreign farm workers each year for a period of service of less than a year. A bi-partisan congressional commission working with the Bush Administration (1989-93) had concluded that there were at least 190,000 farm workers already in America who were out of work at any given time. The federal commission said the oversupply of farmworkers was a major reason why farm workers’ real incomes had fallen by almost half over the previous two decades. Rep. Ensign rejected the recommendations of the commission and took the side of growers who asked for a larger labor supply. The amendment -- which had no provisions for ensuring that the temporary workers did not stay in the U.S. as illegal aliens -- failed by a 180-242 vote.
 
Brought foreign nurses program to an end in 1996
Rep. Ensign was part of a 262-154 majority that brought a foreign nurses guestworker program to an end. He voted AGAINST the Burr Amendment to H.R.2202. Those favoring the amendment said many rural areas had a shortage of nurses and needed the foreign workers. Rep. Ensign was among those who contended that there are more than enough Americans trained in nursing to do the job if the pay and working conditions are appropriate.
 

Citizenship for Illegal Alien Babies
Co-sponsored legislation to stop rewarding children
of illegal aliens with citizenship 1997-1998.
Rep. Ensign co-sponsored H.R. 7, the Citizenship Reform Act of 1997 that would have put an end to the automatic granting of citizenship to babies born to illegal aliens in the United States. This policy grants citizenship to some 200,000 additional people a year according to U.S. Census data. Not only do these births represent additional U.S. population growth, but because the babies of illegal aliens are U.S. citizens, they can then act as 'anchors' to eventually pull a large number of extended family members into the country legally.
 

Inviting/Repelling Illegal Aliens
Voted in favor of amendment to fund border fence in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the Sessions amendment to H.R. 5631, the Department of of Defense Appropriations bill for 2007. This was an amendment to appropriate $1.8 billion for the construction of border fencing and vehicle barriers along the southern border. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), would fund the fencing and barrier provisions proposed by S. 2611 which passed the Senate in late May. A fence is one of the most effective tools for preventing illegal migration. The Sessions Amendment passed by a voted 94-3.
 
Voted in favor of amendment to fund additional immigration investigators in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 5441, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill for 2007. This was an amendment to add about $86 million for 800 more staff to investigate immigration law violations, offset by reductions in other programs. The Sessions Amendment failed by a vote of 34 to 66.
 
Voted in favor of amendment to extend border fence in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 5441, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill for 2007. This was an amendment to add 370 miles of fence on the Southwest border paid for by $1.8 billion in offsets from other programs. A fence is one of the most effective tools for preventing illegal migration. This amendment would have funded the fence provided for in the Senate-passed bill (S. 2611). The Sessions Amendment failed by a vote of 29 to 71.
 
Voted on Senate floor against amendment to kill border fence in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted against the Manager's Amendment (SA 4188), offered by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Manager's Amendment made many minor changes to S. 2611, none of have significant numeric impacts on the overall bill. However, the Manager's Amendment included a provision that requires consultation with the government of Mexico concerning the construction of additional fencing and related border security structures along the international border between the United States and Mexico. This would virtually guarantee that the fence along the U.S.-Mexico border would never be completed. The Manager's Amendment passed by a vote of 56 to 41 to 1 (the 1 denotes a "present" vote).
 
Voted against amendment to make two million illegal aliens eligible for amnesty in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted against the Feinstein Amendment (SA 4087) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Feinstein Amendment would have made an additional two million illegal aliens eligible for amnesty by replacing the bill's "earned legalization" amnesty and Deferred Mandatory Departure provisions with a one-tiered scheme in which all aliens illegally present in the United States on or before January 1, 2006, are granted amnesty and an "orange card" (instead of the normal "green card" that lawful permanent residents are issued) if they are otherwise admissible. The, after a 6-8 year period, orange card holders are allowed to adjust to Lawful Permanent Resident status if they pay a $2,000 fine. The Feinstein Amendment failed by a vote of 37 to 61.
 
Voted to authorize National Guard to assist in border patrol efforts in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the Ensign Amendment (SA 4076) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Ensign Amendment authorizes the Governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas - with Defense Department approval – to order their state's National Guard units or personnel to assist in border patrol efforts (with certain restrictions) along the United States' southern land border. Even though the National Guard would not be directly participating in the apprehension of illegal aliens, they would facilitate the work of the Border Patrol. The Ensign Amendment passed by a vote of 83-10.
 
Voted on Senate floor in favor amendment to create border fence in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the Sessions amendment (SA 3979) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . The Sessions amendment requires DHS to construct at least 370 miles of triple-layered fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers in other areas along the southwest border that DHS determines are areas that are most often used by smugglers and illegal aliens attempting to gain illegal entry, and requires that construction thereof be completed within two years. This physical barrier would help deter illegal entry into the United States. The Sessions amendment passed by a vote of 83 to 16.
 
Voted on Senate floor in favor amendment to remove amnesty provisions from immigration bill in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the Vitter amendment (SA 3963) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . Sen. Vitter submitted the amendment for himself, Sens. Chambliss, Grassley, and Santorum. The Vitter amendment would remove provisions authorizing the “earned legalization” and “agricultural worker” amnesty schemes that would grant amnesty to an estimated 16 million illegal aliens and their families (according to a May, 2006 study by the Heritage Foundation’s Robert Rector). The Vitter amendment failed by a vote of 33 to 66.
 
Voted on Senate floor against killing amendment to prevent Social Security for illegal aliens in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted against a motion to table the Ensign amendment (SA 3985) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . The Ensign amendment (submitted for himself, Sen. Santorum, and Sen. Inhofe), would have prohibited the payment of Social Security benefits based on quarters of coverage earned by an individual who has not at some point had a valid Social Security number. This would have addressed part of the problem of aliens getting Social Security credit for work performed while they were illegally present in the United States (aliens who came in on temporary work visas, but overstayed their visas, would continue to get credit for all work performed, including after they became illegal). The motion to table the Ensign amendment passed by a vote of 50 to 49, effectively killing the amendment.
 
Voted in favor of amendment to increase funding for local and state law enforcement in 2006
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the Bingamen Amendment to S. 2454. The Bingaman Amendment authorizes DHS to award grants to a state, local, or tribal law enforcement agency located in a county within 100 miles of a U.S. border with Canada or Mexico, or in a county beyond 100 miles that has been certified by DHS as a "high impact area," to provide assistance in addressing: (1) criminal activity that occurs by virtue of proximity to the border; and (2) the Federal government's failure to adequately secure its borders. Authorizes appropriations of $50 million annually, for fiscal years 2007 through 2011, to implement this grant program. Although this amendment does not require the establishment of the grant program and caps the amount available for implementation of the program it could, potentially, bring these agencies more into the enforcement fold. The Bingaman Amendment passed by a vote of 84 to 6.
 
Voted in favor of amendment to increase detention beds for illegal aliens in 2005
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the McCain amendment (S. Amdt. 1171) to H.R. 2360, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The McCain amendment would have increased the number of detention beds in the United States consistent with the number authorized in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The McCain amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 56.
 
Voted in favor of amendment to provide funding for additional Border Patrol agents in 2005
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of the Ensign Amendment (SA 1219) to H.R. 2360, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The Ensign Amendment transfers appropriated funds from the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for the purpose of hiring 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents. The amendment failed by a vote of 38 to 60.
 
Voted against amnesty for agricultural workers in 2005
Sen. Ensign voted against a procedural move requiring 60 votes to limit debate and ensure a vote on the AgJOBS amnesty amendment introduced by Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID). The Senate voted 53 to 45 not to invoke cloture, effectively keeping the amnesty off the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief. AgJOBS is an amnesty for agricultural workers. Of the 1.2 million illegal aliens currently working in agriculture, an estimated 860,000 plus their spouses and children could qualify for this amnesty, so the total could reach three million or more. The potential recipients of the amnesty would be required to prove 100 days of agricultural employment in the 18-month period that ended Aug. 31, 2004. Then, prior to receiving amnesty, workers would have to show 360 days of additional farm work over the next six years.
 
Voted against amendment to provide funding for additional Border Patrol and ICE agents in 2005
Sen. Ensign voted against the Byrd Amendment (S. Amdt. 516) to H.R. 1268, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief of 2005. The Byrd Amendment provides $390 million to hire 650 more border patrol agents, 250 new immigration investigators, and 168 new immigration enforcement agents and deportation officers. The Byrd amendment also provides funds for 2,000 additional detention beds as well as funding to train the new personnel. Passage of the Byrd Amendment sent a strong signal from the Senate in favor of increased Border Patrol and Interior Enforcement. The Byrd Amendment passed by a vote of 65 to 34.
 
Cosponsored amendment to provide extra funding for additional Border Patrol agents in 2005-2006.
Sen. Ensign cosponsored the Ensign Amendment to H.R. 1268, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief bill. The Ensign Amendment would have provided extra funding only for additional Border Patrol agents. Sen. Ensign was successful in getting the amendment offered to the final bill, however the amendment was not voted on. The Ensign Amendment was a similar, yet alternative amendment to the Byrd Amendment that provided additional funding for an additional 650 Border Patrol agents. The Byrd Amendment passed by a vote of 65 to 34.

 
Voted for comprehensive alien tracking and
identification system in 2002
Sen. Ensign voted in favor of H.R. 3525, the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001. H.R. 3525 will significantly reduce future population growth from illegal immigration by making it much harder for temporary visa holders to stay in the country illegally after their visa expire. H.R. 3525 provides for an entry-exit system in which every visa holder is checked with a biometric identifier when heshe enters and leaves the country. This information is included in an integrated database that is shared by the appropriate law-enforcement officials. H.R. 3525 passed the Senate unanimously by a vote of 97-0 and is expected to be signed into law by President Bush.

 
Voted to kill pro-illegal-alien
Section 245(i) program in 1997
Ensign voted for the Rohrabacher Motion to H.R.2267 as one of 153 Members who went on record as insisting on killing the notorious pro-illegal-immigration program called Section 245(i). The program dealt with certain illegal aliens who were on lists that could qualify them eventually for legal residency. It provided them a loophole in which they could pay a fee and avoid a 1996 law’s provision that punishes illegal aliens by barring them for 10 years from entering the U.S. on a legal visa as a student, tourist, worker or immigrant. The controversial experimental program was scheduled to “sunset” late in 1997 and be automatically taken off the books. But the Senate voted to permanently continue the pro-illegal immigration program by attaching it to an appropriations bill. House leaders, though, refused to include the program in the House appropriations bill. That meant the issue would be decided in a joint Senate/House Conference Committee. Representatives wanting to make sure that House Conferees fought the Senate stance, brought a “Motion to Instruct” to the floor. The motion would make clear House opposition to the Section 245(i) program. Rep. Ensign resisted intense lobbying from immigration attorneys and businesses that rely on illegal labor, voting to “instruct” the Conferees to kill the program. House Conferees succeeded in doing just that.
 
Voted to crack down on
illegal immigration in 1996
Rep. Ensign was part of a 333-87 majority which passed H.R.2202. It was a large omnibus bill with dozens of provisions aimed at reducing illegal immigration. It authorized major increases in the border patrol forces. But it also had many provisions aimed at making life more miserable for illegal aliens who manage to get into the country, half of whom arrive with legal visas but then illegally overstay. Until passage of the bill, a person could be apprehended as an illegal alien, be deported and then turn around and come back to the U.S. on a legal student, tourist, worker or relative visa. After the bill, an illegal alien was barred from any kind of legal entry for 10 years.
Opposed mandatory workplace verification programs in 1996
Rep. Ensign voted AGAINST the Gallegly Amendment to H.R.2202. That amendment would have made pilot workplace verification programs (see above) mandatory in five of the top seven immigration states. The amendment failed 86-331 under complaints that businesses and states should have more choice in whether to participate in programs to keep illegal aliens from taking jobs.

 
Tried to kill voluntary pilot programs
for workplace verification in 1996
Rep. Ensign voted IN FAVOR of the Chabot Amendment to H.R.2202. He was part of a coalition of pro-business conservatives and liberal civil libertarians who tried to use the amendment to kill the establishment of a voluntary pilot programs in high-immigration states. The programs were intended to assist employers in verifying whether people they had just hired had the legal right to work in this country. Such verification is considered by many experts to be an essential tool for withdrawing the job magnet from illegal aliens. The verification system established by H.R.2202 did not involve an ID card. Rather it provided that when new workers wrote down their Social Security number on an application, employers could phone into a national verification system to help assure that the number was a real number and belonged to the person giving it. In earlier smaller pilot programs, businesses had hailed the verification system for making it easier for them to avoid hiring illegal aliens. Rep. Ensign was unsuccessful in stopping the voluntary verification system. The Chabot Amendment failed by a 159-260 vote.

Tell Senator Ensign what you think of his immigration record.
Phone: (202) 224-6244
Fax: (202) 228-2193
E-Mail: email available via website.
Website: www.ensign.senate.gov/
D.C. Address: SR-364, United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
 
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From:   http://profiles.numbersusa.com/improfile.php3?DistSend=NV&VIPID=558
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