Speech #960190998

Mr. President. I rise in support of the Percy amendment. which would make a sponsors affidavit of support in behalf of an immigrant an enforceable agreement Under existing law a sponsors affidavit is meaningless if the aflidant refuses to support a destitute immigrant for any reason whatsoever. To give meaning to the affidavit an immigrants sponsor should be required to keep those promises upon the strength of which the immigrant was admitted to the United States. It is wrong for a U.S. citizen to promise to support an immigrant and then renege. leaving the immigrant homeless and penniless in a strange land. The Percy amendment would provide the legal enforcement of support affidavits. But the amendment also provides that the affidavit of support will be excused and be rendered unenforceable in the event that the sponsor dies or cannot provide support because of circumstances which were unforeseeable when the immigrant was admitted. The amendment is intended to Prevent the perpetration of fraud upon the American taxpayer by forcing him to support a newly arrived immigrant by way of Public welfare asitac while the sponsor is capable of Providing the promised suppor e amendment would not cause any undue hardship on either the immigrant or the sponsor. There is no better way to provide for the poor and needy. citizens and aliens alike. than to make sure that persons who do not require assistance do not receive it. This approach is consistent with the efforts of Congress and the administration to reduce fraud and abuse and to make sure that only those who are most in need of public assistance receive such benefits As a matter of sound policy. not the innocent axpayer but those sponsors who promised to support an immigrant and who are capable of doing so should be required to provide that support The Percy amendment would bring about this result for a 3year period after the immigrants admission. while protecting any alien whose sponsor encounters unforeseen circumstances. I urge adoption of the Percy amendment.