Chairman. I think that although teeth will be missing in the proposed amendment before us. it does have a purpose. The Supreme Court in the Graham case has said that welfare benefits could be paid to resident aliens. they made no reference to illegal aliens. The Secretary of Health. Education. and Welfare is now under the provisions of the Graham case considering the possibility of directing the States to pay welfare benefits to illegal aliens in Texas and in other States. It surely presents a multimilliondollar liability situation for the States if HEW directs them to pay welfare payments to illegal aliens. This involves a lot of money to subsidize these aliens. If this amendment does anything. it may express the clear intent of this Congress that we think that we should not have HEW requiring the States to pay welfare benefits to illegal aliens. That is the reason I am going to vote in favor of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas . I have previously introduced H.R. 16430 which forbids the payment of welfare benefits to illegal aliens. I hope my colleagues will join me in cosponsorship of this legislation.
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illegal aliens