Speech #960316356

Paul Schultz of Yale University and Julian L. Simon of the University of Illinois. The study was prepared for the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy in an effort to determine whether immigrants are a "tax burden" on this country. The data base consisted of 150.000 families from a 1976 Census Bureau survey. Their findings tend to confirm an earlier study using 1970 census information by Dr. Barry R. Chiswick of the University of Chicago. The study found that nonrefugee immigrants who have come to this country start earning more. on the average. than nativeborn Americans after approximately 10 years in the country. The study also found that these immigrant families tend to emphasize education for their children to a larger extent than do nativeborn families. Immigrants also contribute substantially more in taxes than they take in social services. Professor Simon stated 27100 ku that in 2 to 6 years. immigrants pay roughly the same in taxes that native Americans do while taking less from the public coffers than they paid in. I think that this study will be of great importance to the Commissioners as they deliberate on their policy recommendations. It will certainly enable the Commissioners to refute the arguments made by some that aliens are using up an inordinate amount of social welfare services. As many of my colleagues know. I have introduced S. 1427 (the United StatesMexico Good Neighbor Act) which would create a temporary worker program with Mexico. Solidly based on modern research. such a progam only makes commonsense. yet some critics have made these claims about immigrant usage of social services in an effort to block or halt such needed programs from going forward. It is my sincere hope that when the Commission finally acts it does so on the basis of studies such as this one which appear to be factual and not on the basis of unsubstantiated claims or unwarranted fears. Mr.