SIERRA VISTA - The public wants something done about America's immigration problems and Congress may step up to the plate even though the end result may be less than desired, U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe said last week.
Another major issue the House of Representatives may pass, to get it off their backs, is making changes to the Social Security program which Republican Kolbe said he cannot support as it is now proposed.
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Immigration and Social Security are two of the top domestic issues Congress has to come to grips with during this session, he said during a recent meeting with the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review.
A supporter of a proposal to open the border to people seeking employment in the United States by issuing specific visas, Kolbe said he envisions the process to include biometric information and documents that can't be counterfeited.
As he sees the end result, the new law will go after employers who continue to hire illegal immigrants, closing that loophole that seems difficult to enforce now, the congressman said.
However, the new law has to include provisions, which he and other members of the Arizona congressional delegation have already introduced, calling for ways to have illegal immigrants already in the nation turn themselves in and be allowed to remain in the country working, Kolbe said, adding those who committed crimes would be deported.
Without such a provision, those in the illegal immigrant underground will remain hidden, he said.
"We cannot allow eight to 10 million (illegal immigrants) float," Kolbe added.
However, the congressman's critics oppose any loosening of the law, wanting instead to tighten the border, closing it until the illegal immigrant problem is addressed, which means finding them in the United States and deporting them.
Kolbe said while critics complain about his view, he is finding people at town halls he holds who are becoming more supportive.
Additionally, members of Congress are stepping up and providing more money to provide services needed to address the immigration issues.
The U.S. Border Patrol is getting more agents and special funds to handle the cost to state and local law enforcement agencies with a "huge increase of $50 million," the congressman said.
"Members of Congress understand there is a public mood to make changes (in the immigration arena)," Kolbe said. "They (members of Congress) want this monkey off their backs."
However, when it comes to Social Security, Congress is far apart of what needs to be done, he said.
Predicting the House of Representatives will do something to change part of Social Security and the Senate will not, the congressman said the House Republican idea being floated to take the Social Security surplus and apply it to personal accounts will only be good for 15 years before the surplus is depleted.
"I will not vote for such a bill," the Republican congressman said.
A long-time supporter of private accounts, Kolbe said his fellow party members are just looking for something "to wash their hands of the whole problem."
On the matter of the military, he said Fort Huachuca's future is bright and will include the possibility of units coming to the post in the future, once the current Base Realignment and Closure Commission is completed.
The BRAC isn't the final solution as the armed forces continue to strengthen their programs, the congressman said.
The fort is critical in the intelligence and communication areas, that include developing, testing and fielding high-tech systems, Kolbe said.
But, the congressman added the post and the civilian communities have to ensure water and environmental issues in the region are not only addressed but solved.
Phoenix physical Dr. Robin Silver, chairman of the board of the Center for Biological Diversity, continues to complain that the fort's existence is causing increased growth in the region to the detriment of the San Pedro River, a portion of which is a federally controlled riparian area.
A growing cone of depression on post property near the waterway is absorbing water that should be making it to the river, he said.
Kolbe also expressed concerns about Iraq.
What is facing U.S. troops in Iraq is a terrible situation, the congressman said.
While there is a desire to move the forces out of that country, he said he believes it will be years before America's military presence in Iraq is over. "The losses are terrible," Kolbe said, adding what the United States cannot do is in effect cut and run.
There has to be more of a focus on getting Iraqis to take over more of their own security.
But it is not unreasonable for the United States to be involved in Iraq's security for another decade, the congressman said.
America has been in other parts of the world for more than a half a century, like South Korea and Europe, as a major player in regional security so it will not be unusual for the United States to be a Middle East security provider, Kolbe said.
On another international issue, Kolbe said the current outcry for debt forgiveness to African nations doesn't look at the reality of the problem because those nation's haven't been making payments.
The money has gone to bring democracy, addressed the HIV/AIDS problems and other programs, the congressman said.
While some industrialized nations and other critics chastise the United States for not providing more, they forget that America has been generous and does many things that cost's the nation's taxpayers, Kolbe said.
Not in the equation is "they don't take into account we are the policeman of the world, which is costly," he said.
What critics also fail to mention is between 1997 and 2001, the United States forgave $45 billion in debts to eight African nations.
While providing debt forgiveness is still a possibility it has to come with strict rules to include the end of corruption and reforms to have more democracy, Kolbe said.
"The reforms have to be up front, before debt forgiveness," he said.
