Brooklyn, New York; May 15, 2006--Congressman Edolphus "Ed" Towns (D-NY 10) today reiterated his statement regarding a proposal for a Joint House Senate Bipartisan Commission to review U.S immigration practices:

"The nature of the current debate on immigration has taken a divisive direction. Competing bills exist not only in the Senate and in the House, but in many state legislatures as well. We seem to have forgotten that immigration is basically a human concern. It's about the lives of millions of people-- both illegal immigrants and existing citizens. We have to get it right and for that we should gather all the best information and practices available.

Towards that end, I propose a ceasefire on the immigration debate currently going on in Congress. With congressional members split on a wide range of issues related to immigration, I recommend a Joint Senate and House bipartisan Commission with the power to conduct formal congressional hearings, conduct site visits, and gather the latest data with the objective of completing its final report in six months or less.

The proposed Commission would consist of at least four outside experts on immigration appointed by the Senate and House majority and minority leaders. The final Commission report will offer recommendations agreed to by a majority of commission members, with the views of minority members also included. The final report of the Commission will contain an economic cost benefit analysis of immigration, including a review of the impact on low wage earners, native-born minorities, including African Americans and native-born Hispanic workers and its impact upon urban and rural school districts.

The issue of immigration reform has far-reaching effects and immigration laws should not be created like a shot in the dark."