Speech #920296846

Education. and Welfare is still reviewing the hundreds of comments received on the proposed regulation. and. therefore. I believe it is incumbent upon the Congress to be attuned to this very difficult and complex subject matter. As I have noted. there is evidence that illegal aliens are receiving public assistance. I do not think that the Federal and State Governments have an obligation to individuals who are in the United States on an illegal basis. Consequently. I suggest there is a great need for the Congress to categorically state the policy that illegal aliens should not receive public assistance. The percentage of illegal aliens which comprise our welfare rolls is unknown. In certain areas of Texas. it may be substantial. however. which would explain the grave economic and social problems experienced in areas of Texas where illegal aliens are known to predominate. Their presence particularly affects the economic growth of the MexicanAmerican communities in these areas. The Mexican American faces enough problems without having to compete with illegal aliens for economic security. I believe this legislation would defintely serve his best interests. Likewise. the State of Texas can ill afford further increases in its welfare rolls. There are more than 650.000 recipients of public assistance in Texas. a sizable majority of whom receive payments under the aid to families with dependent children program. Additionally. these programs are restricted by a constitutionally imposed $80 million ceiling on. welfare expenditures. Those who are truly in need of public assistance would be greatly harmed by a Federal Government regulation requiring welfare assistance to illegal aliens. I have previously called for increased enforcement activities by the Immigration and Naturalization Service to detect and deport illegal aliens found within our borders. I also feel the Congress should take the initiative in giving direction to the Supreme Court decision in the Graham case. At this time. State welfare officials are unable to make any substantive reforms in their policies due to the consideration of the proposed regulation by the Department of Health. Education. and Welfare. It is my understanding. in fact. that Governor Rockefeller vetoed a bill passed by the New York State legislature which would have established procedures to screen out illegal aliens because of his uncertainty over the HEW regulation. On September 12 the House of Representatives passed an amendment proposed by Congressman PICKLE. to H.R. 16188. a bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. to require that Department of Health. Education. and Welf are personnel notify the Immigration and Naturalization Service of any illegal alien who is receiving or has received public assistance. I commend the House of Representatives on this action. which would effectuate greater cooperation between government officials in this regard. however. while I strongly support this action. it is clear that it is not sufficient to insure that illegal aliens will not receive public assistance. Under. current practice. it is very difficult for government officials involved in the administration of publicassistance programs to actually know the citizenship status of a beneficiary. There is obviously a need for a clear cut congressional statement that illegal aliens should not receive public assistance. At the same time. authority must be given to the Department of Health. Education. and Welfare and the State Welfare Departments to implement effective methods of screening out illegal aliens. For these reasons. I urge expeditious consideration of this important measure.