Speech #980083387

In his recent state of the Union address. the President estimated that over $1 billion of this assistance was wasted through fraud. ineligibility. or other misuse of the system. At the center of the problem is the fact that current methods of dispensing food stamps do not require positive identification of recipients. thus opening the door for abuse of the system. The Senate recently passed S. 529. a bill to revise comprehensively our immigration laws. Included in this bill is a provision which directs the President to develop a "secure system" within a 3year period for the identification of those persons lawfully admitted to and entitled to work in the United States as well as those citizens of the United States who would be employed by companies having four or more employees. Criminal sanctions would be imposed of employers who knowingly hire persons not lawfully able to work in the United States.