Romano L. Mazzoli
Encyclopedia
Romano L. "Ron" Mazzoli represented Kentucky's Third Congressional District (Louisville, Kentucky
and other parts of Jefferson County, Kentucky
in the United States House of Representatives
from 1971 through 1995 as a Democrat
. He was the primary architect, with Senator Alan Simpson
, of major immigration reform legislation.
Mazzoli was born in Louisville. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame
in Notre Dame, Indiana
, in 1954 and from the University of Louisville law school, first in his class, in 1960. Mazzoli served in the Kentucky Senate
from 1968 through 1970.
Mazzoli was Chairman of the House of Representatives' Immigration, International Law and Refugees Subcommittee for twelve years. He also served on the Small Business, Intelligence and District of Columbia Committees.
Mazzoli authored the Simpson-Mazzoli Immigration Reform and Control Act, later known as the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
, and cosponsored it with Republican Senator Alan Simpson
. The bill enacted the first U.S. laws to sanction employers who hired undocumented aliens; it also granted an amnesty for aliens already living and working in the United States. After five years of debate and compromise, the Simpson-Mazzoli Bill was ultimately signed into law on November 7, 1986.
Mazzoli did not run for reelection in 1994. Since leaving Congress, Mazzoli has taught at Bellarmine University
and was the Ralph S. Petrilli Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Louisville
Law School for the Fall 1995 semester, returning later to the law school as faculty. In 2002, Mazzoli was a Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University
's John F. Kennedy School of Government
In September 2006 he and Simpson co-authored an article that appeared in the Washington Post revisiting their 1986 immigration legislation in the current political climate.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and other parts of Jefferson County, Kentucky
Jefferson County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1971 through 1995 as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. He was the primary architect, with Senator Alan Simpson
Alan K. Simpson
Alan Kooi Simpson is an American politician who served from 1979 to 1997 as a United States Senator from Wyoming as a member of the Republican Party. His father, Milward L. Simpson, was also a member of the U.S...
, of major immigration reform legislation.
Mazzoli was born in Louisville. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in Notre Dame, Indiana
Notre Dame, Indiana
Notre Dame is a census-designated place north of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States; it includes the campuses of three colleges: the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College. Notre Dame is split between Clay and Portage Townships...
, in 1954 and from the University of Louisville law school, first in his class, in 1960. Mazzoli served in the Kentucky Senate
Kentucky Senate
The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators...
from 1968 through 1970.
Mazzoli was Chairman of the House of Representatives' Immigration, International Law and Refugees Subcommittee for twelve years. He also served on the Small Business, Intelligence and District of Columbia Committees.
Mazzoli authored the Simpson-Mazzoli Immigration Reform and Control Act, later known as the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
The Immigration Reform and Control Act , , also Simpson-Mazzoli Act, is an Act of Congress which reformed United States immigration law.In brief the act:* required employers to attest to their employees' immigration status....
, and cosponsored it with Republican Senator Alan Simpson
Alan K. Simpson
Alan Kooi Simpson is an American politician who served from 1979 to 1997 as a United States Senator from Wyoming as a member of the Republican Party. His father, Milward L. Simpson, was also a member of the U.S...
. The bill enacted the first U.S. laws to sanction employers who hired undocumented aliens; it also granted an amnesty for aliens already living and working in the United States. After five years of debate and compromise, the Simpson-Mazzoli Bill was ultimately signed into law on November 7, 1986.
Mazzoli did not run for reelection in 1994. Since leaving Congress, Mazzoli has taught at Bellarmine University
Bellarmine University
Bellarmine University is an independent, private, Catholic university in Louisville, Kentucky. The liberal arts institution opened on October 3, 1950, as Bellarmine College, established by Archbishop John A. Floersh of the Archdiocese of Louisville and named after the Cardinal Saint Robert...
and was the Ralph S. Petrilli Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
Law School for the Fall 1995 semester, returning later to the law school as faculty. In 2002, Mazzoli was a Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
In September 2006 he and Simpson co-authored an article that appeared in the Washington Post revisiting their 1986 immigration legislation in the current political climate.
External links
- September 2006 article, co-authored with Alan Simpson, revisiting their 1986 immigration reform legislation in the current political climate
- Romano L. Mazzoli Oral History Collection, University Archives and Records Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
- Romano L. Mazzoli Papers, 1920s - 2010, University Archives and Records Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky