Speech #970245948

Mr. Speaker. today I introduced a bill which will insure that illegal aliens who worked in the United States (obviously illegally) do not receive social security benefits. At this time when we are worried about the financial solvency of the social security system. I believe that it is particularly crucial to close up the loopholes. Under current law there are no citizenship. permanent residence. or legal residence requirements for receiving benefits under the old age. survivors and disability insurance (OASDI) program of title II of the Social Security Act. Any alien in the United Stateswhether in the United States legally or illegally. or as a permanent or temporary residentis eligible for benefits provided he/she has engaged in covered employment and otherwise meets the eligibility requirements (that is. age. disability. minimum quarters of coverage. et cetera). Dependents and survivors are also eligible for benefits regardless of their immigration status or that of the insured worker. The only exceptions to this general rule are for three categories of nonimmigrant aliens: foreign students. exchange visitors. and temporary foreign agricultural workers admitted under subparagraphs (P). (J). and (H). respectively. of the Immigration and Nationality Act. who are specifically excluded from coverage (26 U.S.C. 3121(b)). These workers do not pay the social security tax and are not eligible for benefits. It seems quite odd to me that we should allow illegal aliens. who were holding jobs in this country illegally. to receive social security benefits. The bill which I introduced will correct this problem. My bill will only allow aliens to receive social security benefits for work done while having the status of legal alien. Moreover. it will not allow dependents and survivors to receive benefits based on the work of illegal aliens or even of legal aliens if they themselves are Illegal aliens. I urge my colleagues to support me in this effort to assure the continued vitality of the social security system for generations to come. by fixing some of the quirks in the present law.0