Speech #970042747

Mr. Chairman. what this substitute amendment does that the amendment of the gentleman from Texas does not do is to itemize those aliens that are eligible or would be eligible under the Legal Services Corporation Act. We have had a long history in this country of debate covering several years now under food stamps. medicare. and under aid to dependent children as to terminology that would exclude or not exclude certain categories of illegal aliens. The present language in the law reads that anyone who is known to be an illegal alien is not entitled to assistance. But that is a very vague and ambiguous terminology. Much like under color of law it is vague and ambiguous. We have had varying interpretations that would virtually allow anyone to be able to receive benefits and assistance who is in this country. "Known to be an illegal alien" as indicated in the debate a few minutes ago on the primary amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas has been intrepreted by many legal counsel to mean only someone in this country who has been adjudicated to be excludable. or has been adjudicated to be subject to deportation. If anyone has not been so adjudicated. that person would be entitled to legal services. So the act itself and the present bill is absolutely unacceptable to those of us who believe the millions of illegal aliens in this country who are not paying taxes who are coming to this country getting benefits from us illegally. should be excluded and should be deterred from doing that. What my amendment does is to delineate those in fact who would be eligible with an A. B. C. 1. 2. 3 category. Those people who would be eligible who are aliens in addition to our citizens would be those who are here under the Immigration and Nationality Act who have been granted status of permanent residence for immigration purposes. That is a great many people. I also include those who are here who are spouses. who are children. or who are parents of citizens of this country who are seeking the status of permanent residence to become citizens. and who under the priorities of our present law would virtually automatically become residents of this country and citizens in due course. I believe they should have the category of assistance provided under this substitute amendment. The next category that is included in my substitute is those people whom the Attorney General has granted asylum to and those people who are residents under the Refugee Assistance Act. They are all included. Also included are those whom the Attorney General has withheld deportation on. those people whom he has chosen not to deport because of fear of persecution for racial or religious or political reasons in the countries to which they would go. What my amendment excludes are those people who are in fact in this country illegally. those whom the gentleman from Texas wants to exclude and prohibit from getting services. The category that he overlooks that I think really is a travesty and is unacceptable is those people who are paroled by the Attorney General. particularly the Cubans and the Haitians. those from Colombia.