Speech #930254572

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 15404. but I wish to express several reservations regarding the inadequate funding provided for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. I wish to emphasize that I am particularly gratified that the Committee on Appropriations has recommended an increase of $21.6 million of current funding for INS. but I am somewhat dissatisfied that the committee deleted $5 million from the administrations budget request. For years now the budget request of INS has been emasculated by the Department of Justice and the Office of Management and Budget prior to its submission to the Congress each year. As a result of my subcommittees review of the illegal alien problem in this Congress. we have concluded that INS is confronted with severe funding and manpower problems. In order to control the serious illegal alien problem. the Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 982 which the House passed by an overwhelming majority. This bill would impose civil and criminal penalties on employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens. The Senate has yet t6 act on this urgently needed legislation. In addition to recommending this legislation. the committee noted in its report on H.R. 982 that INSs inability to control this problem is "directly attributable to the manpower and funding problems which have continuously plagued the Service." Therefore.