Speech #980091611

I thank the majority leader for yielding. Mr. Chairman. this question. as the gentleman rightly said. has come to a head because of a Supreme Court decision about the issue of the impact of children of illegal aliens. Those who would benefit from the provisions of the SimpsonMazzoli Act. the targeted assistance provisions in the Refugee Authorization Act which is pending. demonstrate that in a broader context this has been a matter of great concern to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugees and International Law of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House. As I look at the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas. I do have some questions over its scope because if I understood him. the reason he brought this up was because of the Supreme Court decision dealing with the children of illegal aliens. Section 502. under definitions. says the term "immigrant children" means children "who are not born in a State." So I take it that the status of the child is totally irrelevant.